CCS tennis field is set CCS tennis field is set (May 04, 2005)

Menlo, SHP, Paly and Gunn in the field

by Keith Peters

When the Sacred Heart Prep-Menlo boys' tennis match was rained out earlier this season, not much was thought about the nonleague match.

Should the teams meet again this season, that match will be very meaningful. In fact, it could be for the Central Coast Section Division II championship.

Menlo (19-3) is seeded No. 1 and Sacred Heart Prep (18-1) is No. 2 in the CCS Division II bracket, which was selected Monday night. Both teams received a first-round bye and will open Friday in the quarterfinals.

Menlo will host the Harker-Yerba Buena winner while Sacred Heart Prep will host the Mills-St. Ignatius winner. Both matches are at 3 p.m.

In the Division I tournament, Gunn (14-10) earned a bid and will open Wednesday against Silver Creek (10-2) at Mt. Pleasant High in San Jose. The winner of that match must play at No. 1 Los Gatos (19-6) on Friday.

Palo Alto (15-3) received the No. 3 seed and will host a quarterfinal Friday against the Leland-Aptos winner.

Friday's winners will advance to the semifinals on May 10 at 3 p.m.

Palo Alto travel to No. 2 Bellarmine (20-0), Sacred Heart Prep could host No. 3 Saratoga and Menlo might host either St. Francis or No. 4 Burlingame.

Menlo has the easiest path to the finals, having beaten Burlingame twice while compiling a 14-0 record in the PAL Bay Division regular season. The Knights likely won't be tested until the finals, where Sacred Heart Prep is expected to provide the opposition. The Gators have never played for a CCS boys' tennis title. Menlo, on the other hand, has won six of the past seven section championships.

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