FALL SPORTS SHORTS, 2007–
(Latest tennis shorts will be at the top of the section. Scroll down to view past results. Tournament games do not count toward win/loss record. Visit the Sports Section for tennis features)

For the 2007 tennis SSL schedule.

GIRLS’ TENNIS, 2007–
The girls’ are 14-2 overall and 10-0 in the West Sequoia League as of Oct. 18.

SEASON END

CIF INDIVIDUAL TOURNAMENT
FIRST ROUND ACTION

SINGLES: The match between No. 1 Kara Linkowski and Michele Cabrera from Orosi was delayed because of rain. Linkowski could not stay so she forfeited the match. No. 2 Brittany Shaffer played Holly Harlin from Porterville High and won 6-3, 6-0. Shaffer was supposed to play the No. 1 seed, Gabrielle Gatewood, from Redwood High but the match was rescheduled because of rain, for Friday, Nov. 2. Shaffer will not be able to make the match so she will forfeit as well.

DOUBLES: Janae and Tonia Keys-Bramlett played against McFeeters and Omandom from Bullard High and lost 2-6, 3-6. Megan Ortiz and Haley Volpa-Olsen played against Ferreira and Carreras from Firebaugh and won because the other team did not show up, so now they will play Frea and Sorenson from SJM on Friday, Nov. 2 at 10 A.M.

MISSION PREP DEFEATS FC IN 2ND ROUND OF TEAM DIVISION V PLAYOFFS, Oct. 30
After a three-hour car drive to San Luis Obispo, the girls’ tennis team goes out to lunch before the big game. Despite the cold and windy weather, the girls played a close match against the Royals but unfortunately lost with a score of, 4-5.

“The match that i played was very long,” Kara Linkowski said. “We were both in it for the win; it was just a matter of who had the most endurance.”

Singles: No. 1 Linkowski won, 6-3, 6-3, No. 2 Brittany Shaffer won 6-2, 6-0. No. 3 Janae Keys-Bramlett lost 6-2, 1-6, 3-10, No. 4 Kristina Palmer lost 2-6, 4-6. No. 5 Tonia Keys-Bramlett won 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 10-3. No. 6 Megan Ortiz lost 1-6, 1-6.

“The girls’ tennis team has been improving all season,” coach George Freeman said, “and it was evident when we played Mission Prep. Each girl gave 110% and they should be very proud of their accomplishments this season, especially going undefeated in the West Sequoia League.”

Doubles Linkowski and Shaffer won, 6-2, 6-4, Janae and Tonia lost, 5-7, 2-6. No. 7 Hayley Volpa-Olsen and No. 8 Sophia Cook lost, 1-6, 0-6.

“We lost but it was a very close match,” Janae said, “and we will beat them next year.”

FC DEFEATED FOWLER IN 1ST ROUND OF TEAM DIVISION V PLAYOFFS on Oct. 24
Singles: No. 1 Kara Linkowski led the Eagles as they defeated Fowler, 6-1, 6-0, in the CIF Division V team playoffs on Oct. 24. The team will travel to San Luis Obispo and take on Mission Prep in the second round.

In other singles play, No. 2 Brittany Shaffer and No. 3 Janae Keys-Bramlett won 6-0, 6-0. No. 4 Kristina Palmer won 6-3, 6-3, No. 5 Tonia Keys-Bramlett won, 6-0, 6-1, and No. 6 Megan Ortiz won, 6-2, 6-2.

“From the Chipotle lunch we had yesterday to the last hit by Janae Keys-Bramlett, the day flowed as smooth as the Merced River through Yosemite National Park on a warm summer evening,” coach George Freeman said. “Just as El Capitian towers above the beautiful summer valley, the girls towered abouve their opponents in every match. I am a very proud coach of these wonderful young women, both on and off the court.”

Doubles The doubles matches were a little closer but Linkowski and Shaffer dominated their match, 6-0, 6-2. Janae and Tonia won, 7-5, 6-3 and No. 7 Hayley Volpa-Olsen and No. 8 Sophia Cook won, 6-2, 6-2.

“I was nervous at first but then I knew that we had beaten Fowler before,” Volpa-Olsen said, “so I knew we could do it.”

LINKOWSKI CAPTURES NO. 1 WSL INDIVIDUAL TITLE Oct. 20
Kara Linkowski dominated in the West Sequoia League Individual Championships, beating Fowler’s Vanessa Mora, 8-0, Liberty’s Alyssa Hudson, 6-1, 6-0, and fellow teammate Brittany Shaffer, 6-3, 6-4, in the finals.

“It was a long, rough match against Brittany,” Linkowski said, “because we are used to playing each other so we know how each other plays and where the ball is going to go. Plus it is hard to be competetive in those circumstances.”

While Shaffer lost in the finals to Linkowski, she still managed to beat Liberty’s Alex Hermosilla, 8-0, and the No. 1 seed Aimee Brooks from Riverdale, 6-1, 7-5.

“It was disappointing losing to Kara, of course,” Shaffer said, “but I played my best and thats all I can do, and I think that Kara deserved to win anyway. But it was an amazing accomplishment beating Aimee (the No. 1 singles in the league).”

Jane and Tonia Keys-Bramlett made it to the finals beating second doubles from Libery and Fowler’s first doubles. However they lost to Liberty’s (Madera) first doubles in the tie break with a score of, 3-6, 6-7, (3-7).

“I’m really disappointed that we didn’t beat Liberty,” Janae said, “because we’ve known the No. 1 on the team for awhile and we could’ve beaten them.”

Kristina Palmer, and Megan Ortiz beat first doubles from Caruthers, 8-2, but lost to the No. 1 doubles from Liberty, 3-6, 3-6. This did not stop Palmer and Ortiz and they went on and beat Fowler’s No. 1 doubles in the tie-break, 4-6, 6-4, 7-4, coming in third place.

“There were several highlights that impressed me during the West Sequoia tennis tournament,” coach George Freeman, said. “My memorable moment was watching Brittany Shaffer defeat Aimee in the semi-finals in a two and a half hour match. The second moment was having my No. 1 dream come true: I had two FC girls in the finals and this happened with Kara and Brittany.

The third great moment was having Fresno Christian’s unseeded doubles, Palmer and Ortiz, win a tie-break after losing the first set and winning third place. And lastly watching the Keys-Bramlett twins make it to the finals.”

FC DEFEATS RIVERDALE, Oct. 18
Kara Linkowski dominated in her match against Aimee Brooks, who was considered to be the No. 1 singles player in the West Sequoia League, by a score of, 8-1.

In other singles No. 2 Brittany Shaffer and No. 3 Janae Keys-Bramlett both won their matches, 8-1. No. 4 Kristina Palmer won, 8-0. No. 5 Tonia Keys-Bramlett and No. 6 Megan Ortiz both won their matches, 8-1.

“It’s sad playing our last league match,” Ortiz said, “but it’s nice to have a break for a little while.”

In doubles Linkowski and Shaffer won, 8-2, and Janae and Tonia won, 8-1. No. 7 Hayley Volpa-Olsen, and No. 8 Sophia Cook won their match, 8-7, 7-5.

“By winning this match,” George Freeman, girls’ coach, said, “the girls have completed their 10th consecutive league championship.

FREEMAN WINS WSL COACH OF THE YEAR
Every year the tennis coaches of the West Sequoia League vote for coach of the year. Two time co-coach of the year and now two time coach of the year, George Freeman, is surprised with being voted once again.

“It is an honor to be voted coach of the year for the West Sequoia League,” Freeman said, “considering that the votes come from other tennis coaches.”

According to Freeman the coaches look for someone who has a good tennis program that is well run, and whos girls’ play with integrity and a whole heart.

“If my girls treated the other team poorly I would never receive coach of the year,” Freeman said. “A more accurate name for this award would be coach and team of the year.”

FC DEFEATS LIBERTY on Oct. 16
Oct. 16 was senior night for No. 1 Kara Linkowski, since it was the last league match that she would play at home. Linkowski ended up leading the Eagles to a 9-0 victory.

“I feel very sad,” Linkowski said, “because this is like the last time I’m going to play on the home court but I know that the girls’ are going to do amazing next year. It just doesn’t seem real; this season has gone way to fast.”

In singles Linkowski won, 8-3, No. 2 Brittany Shaffer won, 8-1. No. 3 Janae Keys-Bramlett, and No. 4 Kristina Palmer both won, 8-4. No. 5 Tonia Keys-Bramlett, and No. 6 Megan Ortiz both won, 8-1.

“The Liberty match assured the girls another championship,” George Freeman, the girls’ tennis coach said. “And three year varsity tennis player, Kara Linkowski, was honored as the one senior on the team.”

In doubles Linkowski and Shaffer won, 8-2, and Janae and Tonia won, 8-1. No. 7 Hayley Volpa-Olsen and No. 8 Sophia Cook won, 8-0.

FC DEFEATS AVENAL on Oct. 11
For every game coach George Freeman gives the “terminator” award to whoever is the first one off the court to win. The competition for this award was fierce. Both No. 3 Janae Keys-Bramlett and her twin No. 5 Tonia won this award because both got off the court at the exact same time.

“I would like to clarify,” Janae said. “I won first, I was just on the farthest court.”

In singles No.1 Kara Linkowski and No. 2 Brittany Shaffer won, 8-1. Janae won, 8-0, and No. 4 Kristina Palmer won, 8-1. Tonia and No. 6 Megan Ortiz won, 8-0.

In doubles Linkowski and Shaffer won, 8-0. Janae and Tonia won, 8-1, and No. 7 Hayley Volpa-Olsen, and No. 8 Sophia Cook won, 8-0.

FC DEFEATS FOWLER on Oct. 9
No. 1 Kara Linkowski and No. 2 Brittany Shaffer won with a score of 8-2, leading the team to defeat Fowler, 9-0.

In other singles, No. 3 Janae Keys-Bralemtt won, 8-0. No. 4 Kristina Palmer and No. 5 Tonia Keys-Bramlett both won, 8-1. No. 6 Megan Ortiz won, 8-0

“I’m really proud of the girls,” Linkowski said. “Despite the destraction of a snake being on the court, the team pulled through and won, 9-0.

In doubles Linkowski and Shaffer won, along with Janae and Tonia; 8-3. No. 7 Hayley Volpaa-Olsen and No. 8 Sophia Cook also triumphed with a score of 8-0.

Fowler is in second place in the South West Seirra League with three wins and one lose. When the girls’ tennis team beat them yesterday, it gave them two loses.

“Yesterdays victory put us in a very powerful position,” George Freeman, girls’ tennis coach, said, “to once again be the South West Seirra League champions.”

FC DEFEATS CARUTHERS, 8-0, on Oct. 4
Unfortunately No. 6 Megan Ortiz, ’09, was not able to play because of a second degree burn on her hand, but Fresno Christian was still able to dominate the match, winning 9-0.

In singles, No. 1 Kara Linkowski, ’08, and No. 2 Brittany Shaffer, ’09, both won their matches 8-1. No. 3 Janae Keys-Bramlett, ’09, won 8-0, No. 4 Kristina Palmer, ’09, and No. 5 Tonia Keys-Bramlett, ’09, won their matches, 8-2. No. 6 Haley Volpa-Olsen, ’09, won her match, 8-1.

“We did really well,” Ortiz said, “but it was really hard watching them because I really wanted to play. I couldn’t imagine what Kara went through last year when she sat out for most of the year with her injured knee.”

In doubles, Linkowski and Shaffer won, 8-2. Janae and Tonia, along with No. 7 Sophia Cook, ’10, and No. 8 Cydney Curtis, ’09, all won their matches, 8-0.

“I was very proud of Hayley,” George Freeman, girls’ tennis coach, said, “for not only winning and finishing her match first, but also receiving the terminator award.”

The Eagles will next travel to play Fowler on Oct. 9.

FC DEFEATS RIVERDALE on Oct. 2
In a nail-biting match, No. 1 Kara Linkowski, ’08, lost in the tie-break to Aimee Brooks after a two-hour match after tying, 7-7. The tie-break was won by Brooks, 7-5. However, FC went on to defeat the Cowgirls, 7-2, on Oct. 2.

“Kara Linkowski played one of the longest matches in the history of Fresno Christian tennis,” George Freeman, girls’ tennis coach, said. “Although she ended up losing a close tie-breaker, she never gave up and contiued to play with a high level of intensity and integrity.”

In other singles matches, No. 2 Brittany Shaffer, ’09, won, 8-0, and No. 3 Janae Keys-Bramlett, ’09, won, 8-1. No. 4 Kristina Palmer, ’09, and No. 5 Tonia Keys-Bramlett, ’09, both won their matches, 8-2. No.6 Haley Volpa-Olsen, ’09, won, 8-3.

“It was exciting playing on varsity,” No. 8 Jamie Duzi, ’11, said, “but challenging. I like it though because it makes me improve.”

In doubles, Linkowski and Shaffer won, 6-2, and Janae and Tonia won, 8-2. No. 7 Sophia Cook, ’10, and Duzi lost, 4-8.

FC LOSES CLOSE MATCH AGAINST MISSION PREP on Sept. 29
The girls played with all their hearts and with the best of their ability, unfortunaly they lost with the close score of, 4-5.

“I think I did my best,” Tonia Keys-Bramlett, ’09, said, “even though our team didn’t win.”

In singles No. 1 Kara Linkowski, ’08, lost, 4-8, and No. 2 Brittany Shaffer, ’09, won, 8-0. No. 3 Janae Keys-Bramlett, ’09, and Kristina Palmer, ’09, both lost, 3-8. No. 5 Tonia, won 8-5, and No. 6 Megan Ortiz, ’09, lost, 4-8.

“Our girls gave it everything they had,” George Freeman, girls’ tennis coach, said, “even trying new strategies, but still coming up short against a well-coach Mission Prep team.”

In doubles Linkowski and Shaffer won, 8-5. Janae and Tonia won, 8-3, and No. 7 Hayley Volpa-Olsen, ’09, and No. 8 Sophia Cook, ’10, lost, 0-8.

FC DEFEATS COAST on Sept. 28
Despite the fact that No. 1 Kara Linkowski, ’08, was sick, she still managed to win her match, 8-6 leading the Fresno Christian Eagles to a dominating win with a score of, 6-3.

“I think the game was beneficial,” Megan Ortiz, ’09, said, “because Coast was a pretty good team; but I was relieved we won.”

In other singles No. 2 Brittany Shaffer, ’09, won, 8-3. No. 3 Janae Keys-Bramlett, ’09, won, 8-4, and No. 4 Kristina Palmer, ’09, lost, 5-8. No. 5 Tonia Keys-Bramlett, ’09, won, 8-5, and No. 6 Ortiz won, 8-4.

“The Coast team is improving every year,” George Freeman, the girls’ tennis coach, said, “and this year was no exception. Our girls rose to the occasion and played some tough matches.”

In doubles Linkowski and Shaffer lost, 6-8, and Janae and Palmer won, 8-4, No. 7 Hayley Volpa-Olsen, ’09, and Sophia Cook, ’10, lost, 3-8.

FC DEFEATED DOS PALOS on Sept. 25
No. 1 Kara Linkowski, ’08, No. 8 Sophia Cook, ’10, and No. 9 Jamie Duzi, ’11, were all sick for the game against Dos Palos on Sept. 25. However the girls’ tennis team did not let this get them down and still dominated winning, 9-0.

In singles No. 2 Brittany Shaffer, ’09, won, 8-0, No. 3 Janae Keys-Bramlett, ’09, and No. 4 Megan Ortiz, ’09, both won their matches, 8-2. No. 5 Kristina Palmer, ’09 won, 8-1, No.6 Tonia Keys-Bramlett, ’09, won, 8-0, and No. 7 Haley Volpa-Olsen, ’09, won, 8-4.

“The match against Dos Palos had many firsts for several of our girls,” George Freeman, girls’ tennis coach, said. “Brittany Shaffer played No. 1 for the very first time and defeated her opponent soundly by a score of, 8-0, and also recieved the terminator award for being the first person off the court, for the second time this year. Also playing at varsity level for the first time, Cydney Curtis and Elise Porter played at third doubles, defeating their opponents, 8-3.”

In doubles Shaffer and Janae won, 8-1. Ortiz and Palmer and No. 10 Elise Porter and No. 11 Cydney Curtis both won their matches, 8-3.

“I was kind of nervous playing my first varsity match,” Porter admitted. “But once I started playing I calmed down and realized that it was still the same game just playing different people.”

FC DEFEATS FIREBAUGH on Sept. 20
The battle between the No. 1 players was the best in the young season. Every rally seemed to go on forever, but Kara Linkowski, ’08, didn’t give up and ended up dominating her match despite the extended play, helping the Fresno Christian Eagles win, 9-0, on Sept. 20.

“Firebaugh was a fun team to play,” Tonia Keys-Bramlett, ’09 said, “because we had many long rallies.”

In singles No. 1 Linkowski won, 8-2, No. 2 Brittany Shaffer, ’09, and No. 3 Janae Keys-Bramlett, ’09, both won their matches, 8-0. No. 4 Megan Ortiz, ’09, won, 8-2, No. 5 Kristina Palmer, ’09, won, 8-1. No. 6 Tonia Keys-Bramlett, ’09, won, 8-0.

“Firebaugh is known for playing good, hard, consistent tennis throughout the match,” George Freeman, girls’ tennis coach, said. “We applied the pressure, they gave us all they had, and we ended up victorious.”

In doubles Linkowski and Shaffer won, 8-4, Janae and Ortiz, and No. 7 Haley Volpa-Olsen, ’09, and No. 8 Sophia Cook, ’10, all won their matches, 8-2.

FC BLANKS LIBERTY MADERA on Sept. 18
Despite the fact that Liberty improved over the past year, Fresno Christian dominated by winning, 9-0, on Sept. 18.

“Liberty is a tough team,” Kristina Palmer, ’09, said, “but we played hard and came out on top.”

In singles No. 1 Kara Linkowski, ’08, No. 2 Brittany Shaffer, ’09, and No. 3 Janae Keys-Bramlett, ’09, won all their matches, 8-0. No. 4 Megan Ortiz, ’09, won, 8-4. No. 5 Palmer, and No. 6 Tonia Keys-Bramlett, ’09, won both their matches, 8-3.

“The Fresno Christian girls continue to improve match by match, and game by game,” George Freeman, the girls’ tennis coach, said. “They are playing smarter and hitting the ball with more power.”

In doubles Linkowski and Shaffer won, 8-4, and Janae and Ortiz won, 8-1. No. 7 Haley Volpa-Olsen, ’09, and No. 8 Sophia Cook, ’10, won, 8-4.

FC DEFEATED CARUTHERS on Sept. 13
In a battle of No. 1’s, senior Kara Linkowski defeated her Caruthers’ counterpart, Jackie Flores, 8-0, and the Eagles’ went on to beat the Blue Raiders, 8-1, on Sept. 13.

“This is one of the hardest teams in our league,” Janae Keys-Bramlett, ’09, said. “And we came out successful.”

In other singles play, No.2 Brittany Shaffer, ’09, and No. 3 Keys-Bramlett, both won their matches, 8-1. No. 4 Megan Ortiz, ’09, tied, 7-7, and lost in the tie-break, 8-10. No. 5 Kristina Palmer, ’09, and Tonia Keys-Bramlett, ’09, both won their matches, 8-0.

“The girls’ applied what they had learned in practice over the last couple days,” George Freeman, the girls’ tennis coach, said, “with precision and accuracy.”

In a long-standing tradition, Freeman encourages technical perfection and aggressiveness. One of the ways he promotes this to his girls is to teach them how to smash overheads correctly. If they do so he offers a free lunch to Chipotle to whoever hits an overhead into the opponent?s court with such force that the ball bounces over the fence behind them. In their doubles match, Shaffer won this prize for her and her doubles partner, Linkowski, by doing so.

In doubles Linkowski and Shaffer didn’t have time to finish a whole set so they played to 6 instead of 8 and won, 6-0. Janae and Tonia won, 8-3, and No. 7 Haley Volpa-Olsen, ’09, and No. 8 Sophia Cook, ’10, won, 8-0.

FC DEFEATS TRANQUILLITY on Sept. 11
Desite the hour and a half bus trip to Tranquillity, the girls’ tennis team defeated the Tigers, 9-0, on Sept. 11.

“I’m proud of the how the team did,” Kara Linkowski, ’08, said, “even after the long bus ride over there.”

In singles No. 1 Linkowski, No. 2 Brittany Shaffer, ’09, and No. 3 Janae Keys-Bramlett, ’09, all won their matches 8-0. No. 4 Megan Ortiz, ’09, won 8-1, No.5 Kristina Palmer, ’09, won 8-0, and No. 6 Tonia Keys-Bramlett won 8-1.

“The girls’ played each match with intensity,” George Freeman, the girls’ tennis coach, said, “coupled with brilliant ball placement, and crushing forehands.”

In doubles Linkowski and Shaffer, Janae and Ortiz, and No.7 Sophia Cook, ’10, and No. 8 Hayley Volpa-Olsen, ’09 all won their matches 8-1.

WAWONA PEACH TREE TOURNAMENT on Sept. 7-8
The Eagles did not participate in the Wawana Peach Tree Tournament in Clovis due to poor air quality, Sept. 7-8.

“The health and well being of my girls’ is a number one priority,” George Freeman, associate principal, said. “No competitive event is worth the health risk of any of my players.”

FC DEFEATS FOWLER IN FIRST LEAGUE MATCH on Sept. 6
The girls tennis team recovered from their loss against Immanuel earlier in the week to overcome the visiting Fowler Redcats, 9-0, on Sept. 6.

“We did really well,” Megan Ortiz, ’09 said, “in spite of the heat.”

In singles, No. 1 Kara Linkowski, ’08, won 8-0, No. 2 Brittany Shaffer, ’09, won 8-1, No. 3 Janae Keys-Bramlett, ’09, won 8-0, No. 4 Ortiz, ’09, won 8-4, No. 5 Kristina Palmer, ’09, and No. 6 Tonia Keys-Bramlett, ’09, both won their matches 8-1.

“Fowler has always been considered a good team in the Southwest Seirra Leauge,” George Freeman, associate principal, said. “With good coaching and 26 players, I felt that we gave it all we had and ended up dominating the match, 9-0.”

In doubles Linkowski and Shaffer won 8-3, Janae and Tonia won 8-3, and No. 7 Hayley Volpa-Olson and No. 8 Sophia Cook also won their match 8-2.

IMMANUEL WINS TIE-BREAKS, DEFEAT FC on Sept. 4
FC’s match with Immanuel was closer than the 7-2 final. The visiting Eagles won singles’ tie-breaks that broke the backs of FC. In singles, No. 3 Janae Keys-Bramlett, ’09, and No. 6 Tonia Keys-Bramlett, ’09, won their matches.

FC’s No. 2 Brittany Shaffer, still recovering from dental surgery, was up 3-0 and later down 4-5, lost, 4-7, in the tie-break after the match was knotted at 7-7.

Immanuel won the Valley championship with mostly sophomores and proved they will return a strong team. In the No. 1 singles match-up, Immanuel’s Heidi Jackson, defeated Kara Linkowski, 8-2. In doubles, Jackson/Marissa Statton defeated No. 2 Linkowski/Shaffer, 8-1.

YOSEMITE BLANKED, YOUNG EAGLES ROLL on Aug. 24
The drive to Yosemite High was made even grander as a young Eagles squad shut out the host Dragons, 9-0, to go 2-0 in back-to-back matches this week. While the scrimmage against Madera will not count in the overall team record, the girls matched their intensity again against a non-league opponent.

Kara Linkowski, ’08, showed why she is No. 1 on the ladder as she defeated Christa Elliot, 8-5. Linkowski and partner Brittany Shaffer, ’09, defeated Elliot and Ashli Revere, 8-2, in doubles play.

EAGLES DEFEAT MADERA HIGH on Aug. 23
Despite losing three of their top four players from last year, the girls’ tennis team regrouped and retooled over the off season. In the first match of the year, the team overcame Madera High, 6-3, in a scrimmage.

Top singles player Kara Linkowski, ’08, defeated her Madera opponent, 8-0, while junior Brittany Shaffer, No. 2, also won her match, 8-2, on Aug. 23.

“It was a real confidence booster for our team to win the first match even though it was a scrimmage,” Linkowski said. “The victory will help give us confidence as we head into the matches that matter.”

All home games will be played at H. Quest, formerly Dan Gamels on 4774 N Blackstone Ave Fresno, CA 93726, due to the additional courts.

“We can have seven courts and plenty of shade for our matches,” head coach George Freeman said. “Now our matches will not last three hours and the girls can focus on homework, attend music lessons and participate in other activities.”