Sweetwater High School girls tennis coach Roberto Bonilla said at the beginning of the season that his team had the potential to win a South Bay League championship. The Red Devils had done little to dispute that after winning their first nine league contests.
“With Olympian moving over to the Mesa League, the banner is up for grabs,” Bonilla said. “The South Bay League will now be more even than ever before. With six returners, we are excited to get the season started.”
Those returners include juniors Areli Martinez, Cynthia Herrera, Lovely Salcedo, Rosario Huerta, Esther Mercado and senior Kimberly Arreloa. The team’s impact newcomer is freshman Nikkirae Yamane.
Martinez finished 25-4 last season and improved to 26-0 in singles action this season after SuHi’s recent 12-6 league victory against Southwest.
With victories in upcoming matches against Castle Park and Chula Vista, the Devils could position themselves for a final showdown against San Ysidro in the final match of the regular season.
“We beat them the first time around, but their best girl was out,” Bonilla said.
SuHi’s top doubles team — Arreola and Yamane – improved to 15-1 following the Southwest match.
Herrera, the Devils’s No. 2 singles player improved to 23-3, while No. 3 singles Salcedo improved to 20-4.
