The Yosemite High School girls tennis team has started the season 4-6 with wins against Selma (5-4), Hoover (6-3), McLane (5-4) and Kingsburg and defeats at the hands of Edison (8-1), Madera (5-4), Clovis North, Central Valley Christian, Granite Hills, and a second lose to Edison.

In the season opener against Selma, winners were junior Natalya Choin, the team's current No. 1 singles player, junior Angie Du, at the No. 2 spot, senior Bridgette Ash in the No. 4 singles match and senior Katrina Borough, No. 6 singles.

Choin and Du won the deciding match in doubles against Selma.

The team participated in the eight division, 124-team California Tennis Tournament over the weekend, the largest high school tournament in the nation. The tournament was held at 22 sites in Fresno and Madera counties.

The team had five matches, winning one and losing four.

Choin said she is looking forward to league matches this season.

"Overall, the team is doing well and is showing a lot of improvement from last year," Choin said. "I think this team can win league this yearI. My plan is to play hard all season and my personal goal is to win the league singles championship and do well at the section match."

Head coach Stan Lawrence said the team has played many large school in pre-league matches and he has been pleased with his player's overall effort early in the season.

"We have some players that are passionate about the game and passionate about improving their game," Lawrence said. "Our success this year will be determined by how much this passion spreads throughout the team. With three coaches and a smaller team this year players are getting lots of instruction."

Volunteer assistant coaches are Richard Pastoral and Kathy Naumcheff.

"We finished 4-6 with all but one of our wins and two of our losses being very close," Lawrence said. "Win or lose, being in competitive matches give our girls the chance to improve. We are as ready for league as we will ever be. It appears that Liberty and Sierra will be favorites for league, both teams returning most of their players from last year. We have good depth this year so don't be shocked if the Badgers make a run at Liberty and Sierra."

Lawrence said he welcomes any enthusiastic, hard-working players that would still like to join the team.

North Sequoia League play opened at home against Chowchilla Sept. 11 and at Liberty-Madera Ranchos today at 3 p.m.

Yosemite High Girls Tennis Schedule

Thursday, Sep. 13: At Liberty, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Sep. 18: Kerman at Yosemite, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, Sep. 20: Sierra at Yosemite, 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Sep. 25: At Washington Union, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, Sep. 27: At Chowchilla, 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 2: Liberty at Yosemite, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 4: At Kerman, 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 9: At Sierra, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 11: Washington Union at Yosemite, 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, Mar. 16: Selma High School Yosemite High School 3:30PM