DIVISION I GIRLS: Doubles propels Gaels past Coronado in final

RENO — Amber Del Rosario and Monika Ryan haven’t spent much time together as a doubles team.

That didn’t stop the Bishop Gorman freshmen from fashioning a perfect day and helping their team to a Division I state championship Friday.

Del Rosario and Ryan went 3-0 as the Gaels nipped Coronado, 10-8 in the title match at Caughlin Athletic Club.

The Gaels (15-0) won eight of the nine doubles sets, but Del Rosario and Ryan going 3-0 was a bit of a surprise.

“We put Amber with Monika together, and Amber is usually in the No. 2 singles spot so they hadn’t played together a lot,” Gorman coach Gordon Hammond said. “For them to win all three of their matches including the crucial first round against Coronado’s No. 1 doubles team as freshmen, it just shows they’re very mature.”

Taylor Larreau and Morgan Matley went 3-0 in doubles, and Julia MacDonald and Marisol Arvilla were 2-1 in doubles for the Gaels.

“They almost swept us in doubles because their teams were outstanding,” Coronado coach Luther Bohanan said. “When doubles didn’t do very well for us, that’s where we lost.”

Sisters Marina Arriola and Olivia Arriola claimed the Cougars’ (14-1) lone doubles win, that coming in a third-round tiebreaker.

Hammond loaded his doubles teams Friday, leaving Chelsea Crovetti to carry most of the load on the singles end.

Crovetti won two of her three sets, just enough for the Gaels to claim the victory.

“They practice extra and did whatever they have to do, but again it’s quite a bit of luck because that

Coronado team is very strong,” Hammond said. “I didn’t think we’d beat them in doubles that many times, so it was very fortunate.

“No individual is out there trying to win the whole thing by themselves, though,” Hammond said. “That’s what makes us so strong is that we put together such a great team effort. Even our girls that didn’t play showed a ton of support clapping and cheering from the sidelines.”

The feeling of family and connectedness is something that Del Rosario won’t soon forget.

“It has been amazing to be on this team because everyone was so welcoming, and now we’re all so close,” she said. “We’re all family, and this is just another step for us so next season we’ll be even better.

“It’s just really exciting to be a part of.”

Samantha Smith was 3-0 in singles, and Paris Reese and Nicole Gardner each went 2-1 in singles for Coronado.