School: San Ramon Valley
Sport: Girls tennis
Coach: Frank Haswell
Find out what's happening in Danvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
2009 Record: 8-6
Top Returners: Jackie Barnhart, Ginny Purcell, Regen Corcoran
Find out what's happening in Danvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Top Newcomer: Megan Poirier
Key Quote: "We'll go to North Coast, guaranteed. We didn't go last year and I didn't like it." — coach Frank Haswell.
————————————
A year after the San Ramon Valley High girls tennis team did not qualify for the North Coast Section playoffs for the first time in the five-year tenure of coach Frank Haswell, the Wolves are looking to right the ship.
Haswell said the experience gained by last year's first- and second-year players will be beneficial this season.
"The freshmen and sophomores got a baptism by fire last year," said Haswell. "It got a lot of them really focused and will make them better this year."
His top newcomer was not a part of that trial. Megan Poirier is a junior transfer from St. Francis-El Dorado Hills. Haswell called her his "top dog" and is expecting big things from her.
"(Megan) is a lefthander with good foot work and ground strokes," he said. "As a junior this year, she'll start receiving more recognition from the recruiting trail."
Poirier has already grown comfortable with her new teammates. She said she'll help the new freshmen in practice and help get them back in the playoff picture.
"I hear there are a lot a good teams in there are, so we'll see how it goes," she said. "But I want to win, too."
Another key to returning to the playoffs will be how the team fares on the road. The Wolves will get tested at the James Logan Invitational on Sept. 10 and 11.
The first East Bay Athletic League match is set for a road match against Foothill on Sept. 16. It will be followed by two home dates with Carondelet and Northgate on Sept. 21 and 22. All EBAL league games will also take place at 4 p.m.
"We need to win most of our matches if we want to make the playoffs," Haswell said.
If they do not make the playoffs?
