2016 Desert Pines Girls Tennis Capsule

DESERT PINES

League: Class 3A Sunset League

Head coach: Jan Van Tuyl, sixth season

2015 record: 11-3 (6-1 Sunrise, second)

Returning letter winners: Five

Top athletes: Shelly Alvarado (Sr.), Cassandra Bueno (Sr.), Lordez Harper (Sr.), Veronica Palacios (Sr.)

Outlook: The Jaguars have shown steady improvement in recent years, but will have to make up for the loss of top singles player Ashley Palacios to graduation. Palacios will play for Dubuque University in Iowa this season.

Alvarado, who played on the No. 1 doubles team, and Bueno, who was part of the No. 2 doubles team, will be among the leaders for a team that has some early-season work to do.

“We are going to be pushed to score points this year,” said Van Tuyl, who expects Alvarado to team with incoming transfer Yazaret Arredondo at doubles and both Bueno and Veronica Palacios to play singles.

Most of the rest of the team is relatively new to the sport.

“We have worked hard this summer, but they are beginners,” Van Tuyl said. “The kids are looking forward to the season and plan on doing the very best they can.”