Bulldogs scalded by Nitros
Around the midway point through the first of three rounds, Glendale
High girls’ tennis Coach Bob Davidson and Burbank Coach Paul McNiff
chatted.
The duo discussed how the round appeared to be even and they
figured the match would be close. A short time later, Glendale turned
the contest into a landslide.
Meldia Hacobian won her three singles sets to spur visiting
Glendale to a convincing 17-1 nonleague win against host Burbank on
Monday.
The Nitros (2-0) won all nine of their singles sets against an
inexperienced Burbank squad that lost seven key players to graduation
last spring. Though several sets were close, Glendale managed to
sweep the first two rounds.
“The first round could have gone either way, but we won some close
sets and it seemed to snowball from there,” said Davidson, who led
Glendale to a two-way tie for second place in the Pacific League with
Crescenta Valley last season. “We got some breaks and our team got
pumped up, and the wind came out of Burbank’s sails.”
Hacobian, a junior No. 1 singles player, ousted Burbank’s
Anastasia Altounian with a 7-6 (7-3) first-round victory. Teammate
Josephine Hakopian led Mindy Ou, 4-3, before recording a 6-3 win.
Burbank (1-1) never regrouped.
“We have some decent players, but they hardly have any varsity
experience,” said McNiff, whose team placed second in the formidable
Foothill League behind Valencia last year. “My thinking was that we
would be 3-3 after the first rotation because it was so close in some
of the sets.
“I also thought we’d win three singles and four doubles sets. Now
I have to decide if I want to revamp my lineup or wait until after
this week.”
McNiff won’t have much time to decide. The Bulldogs are in a
stretch in which they play four matches in a five-day span,
continuing at 3:15 p.m. today against Crescenta Valley.
Hacobian, who is a second-year varsity athlete, didn’t let the
elongated first round affect her. She immediately posted 6-1 wins
against Ou and Michelle Han.
Burbank, which opened its season with a 12-6 nonleague home win
against Flintridge Prep on Thursday, captured its lone set when
Melissa Medina and Sijin Park recorded a 6-1 victory in the third
round.
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