Canyon Springs’ Breland finishes perfect Sunrise run
Rebecca Breland watched her niece and nephew each win at least one Class 4A state tennis title.
The Canyon Springs sophomore has served notice that this just might be her year.
Breland finished off quite possibly the most dominating performance in the history of the Sunrise Region singles tournament, blitzing Liberty’s Danae Ingwaldson 6-0, 6-0 in Friday’s final at Darling Tennis Center.
Breland played five matches in the Sunrise tournament and won all five 6-0, 6-0.
“I kept my serves in and stayed consistent,” said Breland, whose nephew Stan, a senior at Palo Verde, won the state singles title two years ago. Her niece, Candyce Boney, won a state singles title at Canyon Springs in 2006. “I just stopped thinking about winning.”
And she made every opponent stop thinking they had a chance to win.
“That might be a record,” Canyon Springs coach Cheryl Dameron said. “When she gets that first serve in, she’s really hard to beat.”
Breland’s power is impressive. She’s in control of nearly every point.
“I feel like I can go to state and win,” said Breland, who stayed to watch her nephew win the Sunset Region boys singles title later in the day. “It’ll be tough. I really like my serve and my forehand.”
Defending boys state singles champion Evan Song of Green Valley cruised to a 6-2, 6-4 win over Coronado’s Colton Pate.
Song has spent most of the season battling a back injury but showed no ill effects Friday.
“I feel good. I’m playing really well,” Song said. “I’ve changed a couple of things on my forehand. I’m trying to use more of my wrist, and it’s working.”
Silverado sisters Nicole and Kristen Santero were 6-0, 6-1 winners over Coronado’s Jordan Bruy and Jordan Luna in the girls doubles final.
The Santeros are two-time state runners-up in doubles but played singles during most dual meets this season.
The biggest surprise of the day was on the boys doubles court where Coronado freshmen Brian Foley and Mitchell Smith upended Silverado’s Dillon McNamara and Devon Morrissey, 7-6 (5), 6-2.
The Silverado duo was the Sunrise runner-up and placed fourth at state last year.
The top two finishers in the region qualify for the state individual tournaments, which begin Friday in Carson City.
Third-place finishers in each region return to the Darling center Monday to play each other with the winner also advancing to state.