Singles sweep leads Broncos past Santa Maria
The Coast Union tennis team dominated the Santa Maria Saints 15-3 on Wednesday, April 13.
Top seed Alexis Mireles didn’t lose a game in his three sets (6-0, 6-0, 6-0). He will represent Coast Union in the CIF playoffs in May, coach Tom Coxwell announced, citing Mireles’ outstanding season to date.
Max Rodriguez won his singles against the Saints, 6-2, 6-0, 6-0; and Omar Alarcon also won his singles sets, 6-4, 6-1, 6-1.
The Saints’ top doubles team defeated Coast Union’s top doubles (Roberto Quintero and Eric Hollingshead) 6-2, 6-2, 6-0. Paul Butterfield and Jesse Houser lost their first doubles set 2-6 but won the next two 6-3, 6-0.
Coxwell, who has coached Morro Bay’s junior varsity tennis team for five years, is stepping in to coach Coast’s varsity in the absence of longtime Broncos coach Ron Ruggles, who had surgery on his knee.
The veteran coach said he is impressed with the Broncos’ talent, and explained that the players “work hard … and have a good foundation. We’ve been able to work on some specific skills and strategies.”
An example of the tactics Coxwell is emphasizing is how to deal with an opponent “who camps out at the net.”
Coxwell’s career includes coaching high school swim teams in Hawaii and in Durango, Colo. He was named “Western Slope Colorado Coach of the Year” before relocating to Morro Bay.
The Broncos were scheduled to travel to Atascadero High School on Tuesday, April 19, but Atascadero canceled the match.
Special to The Cambrian.
This story was originally published April 20, 2016 at 8:06 AM with the headline "Singles sweep leads Broncos past Santa Maria."