2012 All-Area Girls Tennis Team: Campbell Hall's Katz, Pereira top L.A. Daily News picks

Zoe Katz, Jr., and Valerie Thong, Sr., Campbell Hall -- After capturing the past two Southern Section titles, Campbell Hall junior Zoe Katz and senior Valerie Thong paired up again to become the first team to win three section doubles titles, defeating Thousand Oaks Melissa Baker and Kareena Manji 6-1, 6-1 in the final. Katz and Thong finished their three-year run together losing only three sets, including none this postseason. (Michael Owen Baker / Staff Photographer)

Second Team
Ashley Basco, Burbank, Sr.
Meredy Gharabeghi, Burbank, Jr.
Julia Goldberg, Harvard-Westlake, Fr.
Sophie Gunter, Harvard-Westlake, Jr.
Rebecca Ho, Golden Valley, Sr.
Tina Inchalik, Valencia, Soph.
Ashley Keith, Valencia, Sr.
Joy Kim, Campbell Hall, Soph.
Lauren Louks, Malibu, Jr.
Ilana Oleynik, Malibu, Soph.
Kristina Park, Harvard-Westlake, Sr.
Top 10
1. Campbell Hall
2. Thousand Oaks
3. Harvard-Westlake
4. Malibu
5. Granada Hills
6. Westlake
7. Valencia
8. Hart
9. Buckley
10. Camarillo
League Champs
Alpha: Campbell Hall
East Valley: North Hollywood
Foothill: Hart/Valencia
Golden: Quartz Hill
Liberty: Buckley
Marmonte: Thousand Oaks
Northern: Marshall
Mission: Harvard-Westlake
Olympic: Maranatha
Pacific: Arcadia
Pacific View: Camarillo
Prep: Westridge
Rio Hondo: San Marino
Tri-Valley: Malibu
Valley Mission: Van Nuys
West Valley: Granada Hills
Match of the Year
GRANADA HILLS vs. PALISADES, Nov. 8
The singles strength of Sarah Nuno, Samantha Nuno and Analyssa Tallas had carried the Highlanders to the brink of a fifth consecutive City Section title and 11 th in program history, but it was the doubles depth demonstrated by Meena Janekrabuanhad and Abigail Kur that secured the championship for Granada Hills in a 4-3 victory over Palisades. Despite several weather delays, Janekrabuanhad and Kur remained focused and rallied for a 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 victory over Melody Wilkenfeld and Alexandra Kugler in the final match, helping the Highlanders continue the City's longest title run since Palisades won eight in a row from 1984-91. Granada Hills, which went on to win its Southern California regional opener against Laguna Beach, is also second all-time to Palisades' 20 team titles.

Players of the Year: ZOE KATZ and ALEXIS PEREIRA, Campbell Hall, Sr. and Jr.

Even the most decorated doubles player in Southern Section tennis history needs to share the spotlight with someone, and for Katz, that person was Pereira, one of her closest friends.
Katz became the first athlete, male or female, to capture four section doubles championships, teaming with Pereira to defeat Peninsula's Annika Ringblom and Ena Shibahara 6-3, 6-2 in the final at Racquet Club of Irvine.
Katz won the past three titles with Valerie Thong, but her graduation provided Pereira -- who played the majority of the regular season with Joy Kim -- with a window of opportunity and she took advantage.
Katz won all 48 career sets in the postseason tournament, including the final 12 with Pereira, helping Campbell Hall secure its section-record fifth consecutive doubles crown. They were also instrumental in the Vikings winning their first 21 matches, including a Div. I team title and a berth in the Southern California regional semifinals.

Coach of the Year: STEVE KUECHEL, Campbell Hall

When it comes to Campbell Hall competing in Southern Section team finals at Claremont Club, Kuechel is meticulous in his preparation and poignant in his motivation. Those characteristics, combined with senior leadership and strong team chemistry, enabled the Vikings to capture their sixth championship in a decade, including their third in four seasons in Div. I with a 10-8 victory over University, their second win over the Trojans this season. Campbell Hall is tied with Calabasas for the most Southern Section girls tennis titles won by a local team and has more Div. I crowns than any area program.

Newcomer of the Year: YUKI CHIANG, Campbell Hall, Sr.

Previously a home-school student who trained at the Weil Academy in Ojai, Chiang made her lone high school season a memorable one. She lost only one set during the regular season and was dominant during the Southern Section team playoffs, helping a talented singles lineup carry the Vikings to a third Div. I championship before falling in the Southern California regional semifinals. Chiang, the Alpha League champion, reached the singles quarterfinals, before a hamstring injury forced her to retire in the third set after splitting the first two against champion Alyssa Smith of Dana Hills.
First Team
EMMA HIGUCHI, Campbell Hall, Fr.: The talented newcomer had a significant impact on the Vikings' lineup, reaching the Alpha League singles final and the quarterfinals of the Southern Section tournament, falling 7-5, 6-2 to finalist Dorothy Tang of San Marino, who Higuchi defeated in the Southern California regional team playoffs. Swept in singles in Div. I team final against Dana Hills.
SARAH NUNO, Granada Hills, Soph.: Capped another dominant season with a second straight City Section singles championship, allowing only four games in 10 tournament sets, including a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Palisades' Diana Silvers in the final. Remained unbeaten against City opponents in her career, with the only setback a 6-2, 6-2 loss in the Southern California regionals to Dana Hills' Alyssa Smith, the Southern Section champion.
BRITTA MOSSER, Malibu, Sr.: Led the Sharks to an unbeaten regular season and another appearance in the Southern Section Div. III semifinals, falling to champion Laguna Hills. The three-time Tri-Valley League singles champion and league MVP reached the third round of the Southern Section tournament, suffering a 4-6, 6-3, 10-1 setback to Peninsula's Jasmine Hosseini.
SAVANNAH WARE, Thousand Oaks, Sr.: Following an injury-plagued junior season, Ware returned to the Lancers lineup to post a 70-7 set record — 61-4 in singles — including 33-0 in the Marmonte League, capturing the singles title. She was the league's co-MVP and reached the round of 16 of the Southern Section tournament, losing to Campbell Hall's Emma Higuchi 6-2, 6-3.
MELISSA BAKER and KAREENA MANJI, Thousand Oaks, Sr. and Jr.: The Marmonte League doubles champions and Southern Section semifinalists, Baker and Manji had their potential run to another final halted by Campbell Hall's Zoe Katz and Alexis Pereira in a 6-0, 7-5 setback. Baker was the league's co-MVP after going 35-0, finishing 66-8 overall. Manji was 51-6, including 21-0 in league.
CONNER CALABRO and IFEOMA KUCHLER, Campbell Hall, Sr. and Soph.
Produced several important wins for the Vikings during their march toward a third Southern Section Div. I title and sixth championship overall. Calabro and Kuchler, who lost to teammates Zoe Katz and Alexis Pereira in the Alpha League final, reached the round of 16 in the Southern Section tournament, before a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 loss to El Dorado sisters Bridget and Gabrielle Etchegary.
SAMANTHA NUNO and ANALYSSA TALLAS, Granada Hills, Jr. and Sr.: The third straight City Section doubles crown for the pair gave Tallas seven career championships, including four team titles. Tallas and Nuno, who has six total City gold medals, played singles during the Highlanders' run to a fifth straight City team title. The transition to doubles was again a smooth one, as they won in the regional opener and captured all 10 sets in the City tournament, allowing seven games.