The 2007-08 school year couldn't have been better for Randy Barbaglia - or Sobrato tennis.
Last fall, Barbaglia coached the Lady Bulldogs to a share of their first division title in program history, then followed that by guiding the boy's team to its first division championship in spring.
Along the way, Barbaglia watched five of his players reach the CIF-Central Coast Section Singles/Doubles Tournament and two of them - Alexa Watanabe and Randy Pinkston - win Blossom Valley Athletic League West Valley Division singles titles.
"It was a big year," Barbaglia said with a laugh Wednesday. "That was really rewarding for me. What better way to end the year?"
A tougher question is, what can Sobrato do for an encore - in a tougher Santa Teresa Division no less?
The Lady Bulldogs get the first crack Sept. 2 at Independence, a team Barbaglia picked as a favorite to place first.
"It's going to be a lot more challenging," he said. "This group, obviously, is going to be a lot harder. They're stronger teams. I'd say Independence and Santa Teresa are the top contenders."
Although a second division title isn't the expectation this year, Sobrato boasts a team that could challenge for it. The Bulldogs return eight players from a 2007 squad that went 10-2 in league, including Watanabe and Ali Pecsok who meet in the championship match of the West Valley Tournament last season as freshmen.
The match needed an extended set.
"It was a lot of fun playing her, but it was hard because she's like my best friend," said Pecsok, who went undefeated in league play a year ago. "It was a great match, but she played a little better. She won it all."
Both players advanced to the CIF-CCS Singles Tournament and aim to the do the same this fall.
"We've worked really hard this summer," Watanabe said. "Having more experience helped me a lot last year, playing year round and staying active.
"This year, we're playing with girls that can really hit the ball. They're like backboards."
Barbaglia said Watanabe should have a good season if she "plays to her capability."
"That's exactly what she did last year," added Barbaglia, who's in his third season at Sobrato. "She only lost two league matches."
Watanabe and Pecsok again will occupy the Bulldogs' Nos. 1-2 singles spots, respectively, with veterans Danielle Than as the No. 3 and Allison Stoner the No. 4.
"We have a lot of confidence," said Pecsok, whose twin brother Tyler plays for the boy's team. "My expectation is for us to play just as good as we did last year. We have that same bond we had with each other, and we're close with the new girls."
Sara Martin, the Bulldogs' lone senior, headlines the doubles pairings. She'll play in the No. 1 spot alongside younger sister, Katie Martin, who had a different partner last year.
"They both played pretty well," Barbaglia said of the Martins.
The No. 2 pair will be Amy Morimoto and Alyssa Warren - sister of former Sobrato doubles star Jarom Warren - and the No. 3 team remains up for grabs.
Barbaglia plans to have his roster finalized by game one - and of course before the Bulldogs' Sept. 4 showdown with cross-town rival Live Oak.
"Right now, the girls are showing a lot of determination," he said. "They're coming out, they're hitting and they're getting ready to play.
"That's what stood out about this team last year. They loved to compete. I see glimpses of that in this year's team."
Scott J. Adams Scott J. Adams covers Morgan Hill sports for South Valley Newspapers. Send him an email or call him at 779-4106.
Although the Morgan Hill Times does not have any obligation to monitor this board, the Morgan Hill Times reserves the right at all times to check this board and to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to the Morgan Hill Times in our sole discretion and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. The Morgan Hill Times also reserves the right to permanently block any user who violates these terms and conditions. All threats to systems or site infrastructure shall be assumed genuine in nature and will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. Submission of any comments will be considered permission to use online or in print.
