Girls’ Tennis: Estancia loses another close one

Estancia High senior Delani Guyot broke her left wrist on Monday night during a soccer practice.

On Thursday afternoon, less than three days later, Guyot decided she was going to play for the Estancia girls’ tennis team in an Orange Coast League match against Calvary Chapel. Guyot, who is right-handed, played doubles and wore a pink cast on her left hand at Costa Mesa Tennis Center.

“She said, ‘I’m playing, no matter what you say, coach, I’m playing,’” Estancia Coach Jay Gardner said. “[I said] ‘Go for it, if you feel like you can handle it.’ I’ve known her for over four years, and she is one tough cookie.”

Senior teammate Sarah Mack put it a different way when describing Estancia’s three-sport star.

“My goal when I grow up is to be Delani,” Mack said.

Guyot won twice in doubles with Estancia senior Julie Makley before being subbed out. She said her wrist was throbbing and in pain.

In the end, Calvary Chapel was able to beat shorthanded Estancia, 11-7, in the battle of teams that share the Eagles nickname.

Calvary Chapel (6-4, 2-0 in league) is tied for first place in league with Laguna Beach. Estancia fell to 3-7, 0-2 in league.

It wasn’t exactly a fortunate week for Estancia, which lost on games to rival Costa Mesa, 9-9 (78-72), in the league opener on Tuesday. Guyot missed that match and Mack aggravated a right knee injury during the match. It is unknown if she’ll be able to return this season.

“We’re playing pretty well,” Gardner said. “We’re down a couple of players, so yeah, we’re going to struggle a little bit, but we’re playing teams that are just a little better. It’s close. It’s not like we’re losing the match; the other teams are beating us.”

Estancia finished second in league a year ago, and has a chance to turn it around this season as well. But the singles lineup has been tough to solve, particularly with Mack’s injury. Calvary Chapel won seven singles sets Thursday; only Estancia senior Meg Tuxford at No. 1 singles was able to win twice.

The match was tied 3-3 after the first round and nearly ended up tied after the second round. But, in the last set of the round, Calvary junior Elle Martinez edged Estancia freshman Julianna Balducci, 7-5, to give her team a 7-5 sets lead as well.

That was one of four set wins by scores of either 7-5 or 6-4 by Calvary Chapel, which finished third in the league last year.

Senior Lauren Weisser and junior Annie Mitchell swept at No. 1 doubles, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2, for Estancia. But the only other two doubles sets Estancia was able to win were from Guyot and Makley, at No. 2 doubles.

“Hopefully we’ll have Sarah for the next [Costa Mesa match on Oct. 6 at Estancia],” Weisser said. “You know, you get better with time.”

All of her teammates also know that it would take a lot for Guyot to miss that match.

“I think of all people, it doesn’t surprise me that she’s [playing with a broken wrist],” Weisser said. “That’s her personality. She’s so athletic, she can do practically anything.”