Indians end rival’s stronghold

Burroughs High No. 1 doubles player Nicole Carothers knew nothing

about the cross-town rivalry with Burbank before joining the Indian

program this season.

A transfer player from Northern California, Carothers had no idea

about the heated competition that usually takes place when the teams

meet.

“Although I’m new, some of my teammates filled me in about how

important it is when we play against Burbank,” said Carothers, who

with partner Sarah Aguilar, swept, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2. “It’s kind of neat

to be a part of it, and I’m just glad to be a part of the Burroughs

team.”

Carothers got to witness the rivalry firsthand Tuesday when the

Indians hosted the Bulldogs in the first Foothill League match of the

season. She also was able to savor the first Burroughs win against

its rival in six years in a 14-4 triumph.

Burroughs (5-4, 3-2 in league), which lost to the Bulldogs twice

last season, earned its first cross-town win since 1999 when the

teams split their matches and shared the league championship.

“Most of the girls on our team had no idea about how long it’s

been since we last beat Burbank,” said Burroughs Coach Roy Bernhardt,

whose teams won league titles in 1994, ’96 and ’99. “But I know. And

I was sure aware of it.

“But this is nice for the girls. It’s nice to finally get a win

against [the Bulldogs] after losing to them for so many years.”

The Indians move into second place in league with the win.

Bernhardt said his team is focused on making it to the CIF Southern

Section Division II postseason for the first time since 1999.

“The win against Burbank is nice, but I think our team is looking

at the bigger picture,” Bernhardt said. “They really have their

sights set on making it to the playoffs.”

The loss drops Burbank (3-9, 2-3) into third place in league.

Bulldog Coach Paul McNiff expected a close match against

Burroughs. However, that idea began to fall apart after the Indians

took a 5-1 lead after the first of three rounds.

“We were just very inconsistent today,” McNiff said. “It was a

total team meltdown. I figured for us to lose as badly as this,

almost every player would have to not do her job. And that’s what

happened.

“But I have to give credit to Burroughs. Their players played well

today and they earned the win.”

Leading the Burroughs charge was a singles contingent that won

eight of nine sets.

At No. 1 singles, Melanie Irinco won, 7-6 (7-2), 6-0, 6-2, No. 2

Stephany Arroyane won, 6-2, 6-0, 6-0, and Hasmik Mkrtchyan went, 4-6,

6-2, 6-2.

In doubles, Carothers and Aguilar earned the lone sweep for the

Indians. At No. 2, Arpi Dergalasian and Vanessa Carrisoza went, 4-6,

7-5, 7-6 (7-4), and Jenny Dao and Michelle Manzon went, 6-2, 5-7,

2-6.

Burbank earned a set win in singles, as No. 1 Anastasia Altounian

won, 6-4, and three in doubles, as Siripa Chakavarnmungkol and

Melissa Medina went, 6-4, Leslie Fule and Rebecca Ghadimi won, 7-5,

and Sijin Park and Christine Mun won, 6-2.

The Indians held a 9-3 advantage after two rounds and needed just

one set win in the final round to secure the victory. That win came

on the first point of the third round when Dao and Manzon defeated

Chakavarnmungkol and Medina, 6-2.

“I was kind of nervous in that last [set],” Manzon said. “I just

wanted to win so much. But I’m really glad we could win [Tuesday].

This is a great feeling.”

The teams will be back in league action today when Burroughs plays

at Saugus and Burbank travels to Hart.

“It’s really hard to prepare for teams in league this season

because Valencia is at the top and all the other teams are so up and

down,” McNiff said.

“The second half of league is going to be very interesting. We

could finish anywhere from second place to fifth place. It’s really

that crazy this season.”