DNHS tennis team does well at event in Redding

Squad wins a few titles despite the extreme heat

The Del Norte High girls tennis team opened the 2011 season in the extreme heat of Redding.

Despite the difficult conditions, with temperatures hitting more than 105 degrees, the girls persevered and had several top performances at the tournament, which took place Friday and Saturday,

“It was record-breaking temperatures so the girls were dying from the heat,” head coach  Sara Miller said. “A lot of them struggled with nausea and dizziness.”

Those who performed well included No. 1 singles player, senior  Kathryn Gustafson, who was in the top flight and won her bracket, which made her the overall tournament champion. Gustafson and Sam Bausch played in the top flight doubles division and took first overall, which means they were the overall doubles champions.

Junior Taylor Cleland was in the fourth flight and won her bracket.

Freshmen Jordan Babich and  Alexis Wright played in the fourth  doubles flight and placed first.

Miller was proud of what her team accomplished despite the weather.

“Overall, the tournament was a positive experience that the girls could get closer together as a team and gain some match experience for those that have never played,” she said. “The actual tennis play was torture and I felt bad for my girls on the courts ...  I was proud that they did it and did not quit.”

Today, Del Norte opens the Humboldt-Del Norte Conference season against Arcata at home. The match begins at 4 p.m. at the tennis courts at the high school.