Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Los Gatos tennis standout Maren Lassner dropped a tough three-set decision to Camille Behnke of Saratoga.

And the rivalry continues

Falcons edge Cats in girls' tennis

By Dick Sparrer

Two longtime rivals got together for a little sports action last week.

And the results? Well, they were about what one would expect in such a longtime rivalry.

The Los Gatos and Saratoga sports teams have been battling it out in athletics for the better part of four decades, and that rivalry was renewed last week when the tennis teams from the two schools got together on the Gatos courts. The results was a classic Los Gatos-Saratoga event.

The Falcons pulled out a 4-3 thriller over the Wildcats to improve to 9-1 in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League and to 11-1 for the year. The Cats slipped to 3-5 in league play and to 5-5 for the year.

Camille Behnke and Carolyn Hooper pulled out thrilling three-set victories over their Los Gatos foes.

Behnke edged Maren Lassner 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 at No. 2 singles, and Hooper managed a 6-2, 0-6, 6-3 win over Robyn Levine at No. 3 singles.

Kelly Pisani and Lindsay Lightbody teamed for an easy 6-4, 6-0 victory at No. 1 doubles, and Stacey Chalmers and Kelli Shea came through with a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 2 doubles.

Joanna Sickler of Los Gatos pulled out a tight 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 win over Nicole Behnke of Saratoga at No. 4 singles to lead the Los Gatos effort.

Leah Thomas won by default at No. 1 singles for the Cats, and Tina Chang and Kristin Maibaum won by default at No. 3 doubles.

Los Gatos opened the week with a tight 4-3 win over Homestead in a league match.

Lassner came through with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles, and Chang won 7-5, 7-6 at No. 4. Levine won by default at No. 3 singles.

Maibaum and Sickler helped clinch the team win for the Cats with a 6-2, 6-4 victory at No. 3 doubles.

In other local action, Leigh lost a pair of matches last week in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.

Stephanie Smith posted a 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 1 singles, but the Longhorns dropped a 5-2 nod to Mitty. Leigh lost 6-1 to Presentation later in the week to slip to 3-7 in league play and to 3-8 for the year.