Thanks to reader Sue Ludwig for sending in this story.
When Alyssa Smith saw the CIF-SS 2012 Girls Individual Championships Draw she knew that she would have a tough match in the quarters against Yuki Chang (Campbell Hall), but she also knew what she wanted, and that was to win. With a match that took two days (and numerous weather delays) to finish, Smith defeated Chang 6-7(9), 7-6(8), 3-0(ret.) to advance to the semi's.
With her goal of the championship in sight, Smith cruised through the semi's defeating Francis Dean(Arcadia) 6-0, 6-1 and kept her momentum in the final's with a decisive 6-1, 6-2 victory over Dorothy Tang(San Marino) in the CIF-SS Individual Championships title match Wednesday, December 5 at the Racquet Club of Irvine.
"My sisters each won two championships," Smith said. Smith's sister Kristina (a senior at UC Irvine) won the doubles championship in 2007 and Joanna (a sophomore at Arizona State) helped her team to two CIF Championships.
The last time Dana Hills had a CIF singles champion was 1990, but for Smith she had other records in mind as well. "I wanted to beat my sisters because we're all super-competitive, in a good way, and even though they have four CIF team championships between them, I think with one CIF team championship, one CIF Regional championship and the CIF Individual Singles title, that I might have one-upped them." Smith giggles with her trademark smile.
Dana's talented doubles team of Cassidy Spearman-Jessica Perez reached the semifinals in the doubles draw before losing 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 to Annika Ringblom-Ena Shibahara(Peninsula).
Smith who has recently signed with Duke University on a full scholarship, said "I am just so thrilled, next year I'm going to a school that I have always dreamed of and my last high school season was amazing, we have a great senior class and I'm happy that we can have such an impact on high school tennis."
