The young Los Alamitos Girls tennis program came up short in their attempt to claim a share of first place in the Sunset League standings — falling to Newport Harbor 15-3 last Tuesday in a showdown of the two Sunset League powers.
It was the second time Newport had downed Los Al this season. They are unbeaten in Sunset League play.
On Thursday the Griffins rebounded to downed Fountain Valley to improve their league record to 8-1. They finish against Edison on Monday and then get ready for the Sunset League Individual Championships next Wednesday and Thursday.
Although this is his first year helming the Griffin girls program, coach Kevin Garrett is no stranger to Los Al tennis. He played for some Griffins boys championship teams back in the mid 90s and he coached the Griffin Boys to a CIF championship in 2002.
For the last few years he has been running the tennis program at El Dorado Park in Long Beach — where the Griffins often practice — and from that he is very familiar with the Griffin players.
Garrett has two freshman, Aliya Alenikov and Caroleen Faraji, in his singles rotation, along with senior Lexi Buttle, younger sister of Leland Buttle, a standout on the Los Al boys team a few years ago.
While he has changed up the rotation on occasion, Garrett usually uses senior Stephanie Cartmel and junior Melissa Gagungu as his No. 1 doubles tandem. Behind them are junior Sarah Edwards and freshman Sydney Bott, and at No. 3 are sophomore Mary Bunting and senior Elena Sehremelis.
