SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis tennis team had won the match and clinched its fourth straight Delta League title but there was one match still to be decided. Senior Myra Anwar had never beat Davis playing at the top spot and she was determined to end that streak Thursday.
Anwar, who lost to Lyna Jiang in the first matchup this season, prevailed in three sets with her teammates, parents and coaches all surrounding her court.
"It feels amazing," said Anwar of her three-set win at No. 1. "I was nervous going into the third set and I thinking about last time (a three-set loss). But I cleared that and I got to my game. It was going to be my match."
Anwar dropped the first set 6-4 after leading but rebounded to take the second set and win the third set tiebreaker.
"I got a little down after the first set because I was up," said Anwar. "Going into the set, I cleared my mind and on my fingers I would count down each point on my fist pump. It helped me a lot."
The Troubadours setup the clinching 8-1 victory over the Blue Devils with solid play throughout their lineup. Alsiha Anwar, Adithi Benush, Izzy Asker, Samantha Sonntag and Safaa Umar were all straight set winners in singles.
Junior Biana Ariza and Peyton Spellacy paired to post a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 1 doubles, while senior Roya Pahlavan and sophomore Rosmy Alengaden prevailed 6-3, 6-4 at No. 2.
"We did really well today," said Pahlavan. "We had to push through our second set. We did a really good job communicating to get through it."
The win clinched the fourth consecutive Delta League title for the Troubadours. The Troubadours have now won 41 consecutive Delta League matches dating back to 2015.
"Honestly I am feeling good about it," said Alengaden about the team's postseason ahead. "I think we have a really good at it. If we just keep how we are going, we are going to go very far."
St. Francis has two league matches remaining next week with Elk Grove on Tuesday for Senior Day and Cosumnes Oaks to complete the regular season on the road on Thursday.
St. Francis 8, Davis 1
No. 1 Singles Myra Anwar, SF, def. Lyna Jiang, D, 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-5)
No. 2 Singles Alisha Anwar, SF, def. Maru Marques, D, 6-2, 6-1
No. 3 Singles Adithi Benush, SF, Michela Gunther, D, 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 Singles Izzy Asker, SF, def. Me. McConnell, D, 6-4, 6-1
No. 5 Singles Sam Sonntag, SF, def. Danielle Bollinger, D, 6-4, 6-3
No. 6 Singles Safaa Umar, SF, def. Grace Ji, D, 6-1, 6-2
No. 1 Doubles Bianca Ariza/Peyton Spellacy, SF, def. Julia Pun/Maggie Warren, D, 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 Doubles Roya Pahlavan/Rosmy Alengaden, SF, def. Reyna Shauman/Mehrsa Hassanzadeh, D, 6-3, 6-4
No. 3 Doubles Sophie Zhang/Jade Lundy, D, def. Emmy Goebels/Maddie Brown, SF, 6-2, 6-2
