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.