Girls tennis: Redwood takes down Branson to claim third consecutive MCAL title

Jordan Marotto, Julia Laury, and Gwenn Ricordel picked up singles victories to help guide the Redwood High girls tennis team to a 6-1 victory over Branson in the MCAL championship held Thursday at Novato High.

The final was originally scheduled for Friday but was moved up a day to avoid the possibility of a rainout. The MCAL singles and doubles tournaments are scheduled to take place at Novato High from Monday to Wednesday next week but rain could be a possibility then, also.

Marotto secured a 6-2, 6-1 victory atop the singles ladder against Mirabel Arlander. Laury claimed a 6-0, 6-0 win against Alexa Warrin at No. 3 singles and Ricordel posted a 6-0, 6-0 win over Olivia Shekou at No. 4 singles.

“They all played so well,” Redwood coach Tracey Porter said of her players. “They were not messing around. They came to play and dominate.”

The Giants, who posted a 16-0 record during the league season, swept the doubles behind the teams of Ella Povio/Alessia Balliet, Livia Klompus/Molly Gallagher, and Gaby Puentes/Lula Fraschetti.

“Molly’s been out with a knee injury for the last month and she just played so well today,” Porter said. “They were giving max effort in every point. It was really fun to watch.”

Branson’s Katie Warrin won the most competitive match of the day, outlasting Julia Povio 6-2, 2-6, 10-7 at No. 2 singles.

“Julia Povio and Katie Warrin had an amazing match,” Porter said. “They both played great.”

Redwood and Branson have clashed for the MCAL championship in each of the past four years with the Bulls winning in 2021 and the Giants winning the three most recent meetings.

Redwood gains an automatic berth into the North Coast Section Division I playoffs, which are set to start on Nov. 12 and finish on Nov. 16. Branson is also expected to receive an at-large bid to the D-II playoffs.

Redwood entered last season’s D-I playoffs as the No. 3 seed and went on to win the program’s first section title since 2001. Redwood took down No. 2 Miramonte in the semifinals and No. 1 Monte Vista in the finals. Julia Povio, Laury, and Ricordel posted singles victories in the title win against Monte Vista.

Branson was the No. 4 seed in D-II last year and bowed out to No. 5 Marin Academy in the quarterfinals.