DIVISION I TENNIS: Telepathic Palo Verde sisters win second consecutive doubles title
Palo Verde sisters Chloe and Sophie Henderson insist they rarely argue.
They spend far more time finishing each other’s sentences and knowing what the other is doing.
The duo’s telepathy works wonders on the tennis court.
The Henderson sisters won their second consecutive Division I girls doubles title Monday, defeating teammates Tia Okano and Isabella Shelton, 6-4, 6-3 at The Meadows.
“We know what each other is going to say and where we’re going to be,” said Sophie Henderson, a sophomore.
The match began Saturday in Reno, but rain halted play at 4-4 in the first set. All matches involving only Southern Nevada participants were postponed until Monday, and the Hendersons wasted no time taking control, rattling off the first five games after play resumed.
“We tried to stay relaxed,” Sophie Henderson said. “When we started, it was the most intense part of the match. It was hard to start at the high point, so we just tried to relax.”
Chloe Henderson’s backhand stab volley at the net closed out the first set.
Both sisters played well at the net, shortening points and cutting down angles.
“We just moved our feet and communicated well,” Sophie Henderson said.
Okano finally held serve at 3-1 in the second set, but the Hendersons held serve in each of their final three chances to close out the match, fighting off two break points in the final game.
“It feels great,” said Chloe Henderson, a junior who won her third straight doubles title. Chloe Henderson teamed with Kristen Newell to win the title in 2012. “Especially having to stop and then come back. It’s nice.”
In the boys singles final, Desert Oasis sophomore Ben Gajardo took advantage of Saturday’s delay and rallied for a 7-5, 7-6(2) win over Coronado’s Ryland McDermott.
Gajardo was down a service break at 0-3 in the first set when play was stopped Saturday, but quickly got the break back and fought off McDermott in the first set.
“I just tried not to focus on being down,” Gajardo said. “I just tried to act like I was starting fresh. I was dictating the ball pretty well. I was very comfortable with my serve today.”
Gajardo became the first Desert Oasis tennis player to win a state title.
“It’s a real honor,” Gajardo said. I’m glad all the work and all the fighting is over for this season.”
Liberty’s Dylan Ihmels took third place in boys singles, topping Palo Verde’s Rhett Bossung, 6-3, 7-5.
Palo Verde’s Annie Walker topped Newell in the girls singles consolation match when Newell was unable to continue due to injury. Walker led 7-6(3), 2-0 when the match was stopped.
The Panthers also took third place in boys doubles as Conor Safbom and Brandon Sulzberg rallied after dropping the first set in the rain Saturday. The duo beat Green Valley’s Mackay Boman and John John, 2-6, 6-0, 7-5.
“We won the team championship last weekend, and we played so many sets over the weekend,” Safbom said. “Brandon was suffering because of injuries. A few days off just really helped us recovered. We got our heads together and did what we had to do.
Said Sulzberg: “It was hard coming back, especially after what they put us through in the first set.”