Sage Hill’s starters earn all-league recognition

The Sage Hill School girls’ tennis team garnered four of the 12 first-team All-Academy League honors and five of the 12 second-team all-league spots.

All nine starters for the team were named to the first or second team.

Junior Julia Blakeley finished the season at 37-4, 11-1 in the playoffs, and was the Academy League singles champion. She reached the third round of the CIF individual tournament losing to senior Ellie Edles of Estancia. This is Blakeley’s second first-team selection. She was also named the team’s MVP for the second year in a row.

Senior team captain Jaclyn Smrecek, who played No. 2 singles behind Blakeley, earned her fourth first-team all-league honor. She was 48-25 and finished fourth in the Academy League finals.

Senior co-captain Isa-Maria Taskinen, who played at the No. 1 doubles position, earned her second first-team all-league honor.

She was 69-24 for the season.

Freshman Rian Billingsley, who teamed with Taskinen, was also named first-team all-league. She was 60-29. Billingsley and Taskinen finished second in the Academy League doubles final.

Junior Dominique Moore, sophomore Devyn Billingsley, freshman Katie Bick and seniors Laney Tucker and Sarah Choi earned second-team all-league recognition.

Moore, who was 64-27 in doubles, was named the most improved player by Sage Hill.

Sage Hill reached the CIF Southern Section Division IV title match. It was the third time in four years the Lightning reached a section final. The Lightning, who finished 26-10, lost to unbeaten St. Margaret’s, 10-8.

Sage Hill also finished second to the Tartans in the Academy League.

— From staff reports