The shock of winning the Tri-County Athletic League doubles championship has just about passed.
"I think they're over it," San Benito tennis coach Ed Cecena said.
After Rachel Smith and Erin Glasspool defeated then-undefeated Vanessa Casalegno and Chelsea Yoakum earlier this month at the TCAL Tournament, an upset victory that left the makeshift doubles team somewhat stunned afterward, the San Benito pairing has been practicing three times a week in order to prepare for next week's Central Coast Section Girls Doubles Championships.
It's a short time to perhaps learn the strengths and weaknesses of your playing partner, as Smith and Glasspool were an upstart pairing for the TCAL Tournament on Nov. 2, and only played as a doubles team during practice - never during the regular season.
"But they're pretty relaxed and they work hard in practice," Cecena said. "They understand what they're up against."
Glasspool played No. 2 doubles for much of the season with a handful of different partners, but Smith was mostly at No. 2 singles during the regular season, leaving their inclusion into Monday's CCS tournament a bit of a surprise in itself.
But after the two won four straight matches, including the TCAL championship over teammates Casalegno and Yoakum, maybe three weeks of practice is more than enough time to get reacquainted.
"All they have to do is relax," Cecena said. "Give yourself a chance to let your talent come out.
"I just want them to go in relaxed. Hopefully, that'll allow them to play their best tennis."
There is a certain, almost expected pressure when entering any Central Coast Section tournament, however, whether you're a top seed or an unranked sleeper.
It comes with the postseason territory, really.
But playing with nerves and maybe even some preconceived notions can often deter talent and skill. Last year, playing top-seeded Melissa Kobayakawa and Vynnie Kong of Monta Vista, San Benito's Amanda Marshall and Abbie Woods said they may have psyched themselves out after hearing their opponents were the No. 1 seed.
Marshall has been helping out at practice this season, perhaps doling out some CCS advice, but Cecena said Smith and Glasspool don't appear to be entering the year-end tournament with any added pressures.
"They're not really nervous. I would say they're more laid back," Cecena said. "It's been such a great season, this is just the icing on the cake.
"They're all league champions, so the competition will be very stiff, but they know what they'll be up against."
Smith and Glasspool will open the 16-team tournament on Monday against No. 2 seed Malavika Padmanabhan and Lisa Asai of Saratoga.
Matches begin at 12 p.m., at the Courtside Tennis Club in Los Gatos.
"They're always a traditional powerhouse in tennis," Cecena said of Saratoga.
The San Benito head coach wants the doubles duo to start small on the court, though, first pocketing a few points, then taking a few games. If they can hang around long enough, he says, who knows what will happen.
"They can compete with anybody," Cecena said. "The other teams may have more tennis experience, but if they can hang in there, anything is possible. They proved that at TCALs."
Andrew Matheson Andrew Matheson is a sports writer for South Valley Newspapers. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 334 or at amatheson@svnewspapers.com.
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