Henderson sisters finish off another state doubles title

Palo Verde sisters Chloe and Sophie Henderson insist they rarely argue.

They spend far more time finishing each other’s sentences and knowing what the other is doing.

The duo’s telepathy works wonders on the tennis court.

The Henderson sisters won their second consecutive Division I girls doubles title Monday, defeating teammates Tia Okano and Isabella Shelton, 6-4, 6-3 at The Meadows.

“We know what each other is going to say and where we’re going to be,” said Sophie Henderson, a sophomore.

The match began Saturday in Reno, but rain halted play at 4-4 in the first set. All matches involving only Southern Nevada participants were postponed until Monday, and the Hendersons wasted no time taking control, rattling off the first five games after play resumed.

“We tried to stay relaxed,” Sophie Henderson said. “When we started, it was the most intense part of the match. It was hard to start at the high point, so we just tried to relax.”

Chloe Henderson’s backhand stab volley at the net closed out the first set.

Both sisters played well at the net, shortening points and cutting down angles.

Okano finally held serve at 3-1 in the second set, but the Hendersons held serve in each of their final three chances to close out the match, fighting off two break points in the final game.

“It feels great,” said Chloe Henderson, a junior who won her third straight doubles title. Chloe Henderson teamed with Kristen Newell to win the title in 2012. “Especially having to stop and then come back. It’s nice.”

In the boys singles final, Desert Oasis sophomore Ben Gajardo took advantage of Saturday’s delay and rallied for a 7-5, 7-6 (2) win over Coronado’s Ryland McDermott.

Gajardo was down a service break at 0-3 in the first set when play was stopped Saturday, but quickly got the break back and fought off McDermott in the first set.

“I just tried not to focus on being down,” Gajardo said. “I just tried to act like I was starting fresh. I was dictating the ball pretty well. I was very comfortable with my serve today.”

Gajardo became the first Desert Oasis tennis player to win a state title.

“It’s a real honor,” Gajardo said. I’m glad all the work and all the fighting is over for this season.”

DIVISION I-A

At the rate they’re going, the Pasimio brothers may never release their stranglehold on the Division I-A boys singles tennis title.

Clark’s Michael Pasimio picked up right where older brother Miko left off, capturing the title Monday with a 6-3, 6-2 win over The Meadows’ Kevin Chau.

The Pasimio brothers have won all three boys singles titles since Division I-A was created prior to the 2012-13 school year. Miko, who opted not to play high school tennis this year, won the last two titles.

“It feels great,” Michael Pasimio said. “We spend so much time training every day, not just for high school tennis, but for ourselves, too. It feels great to be rewarded.”

Whipping forehand groundstrokes from just beyond the baseline, Pasimio quickly took the first set and cruised to a 5-1 lead in the second set before Chau held serve.

“I just kept my focus, especially with all the other matches going on,” Pasimio said. “I just tried to control what I could control.”

In girls singles, Sierra Vista freshman Averiana Mitchell won her school’s first tennis title and completed a masterful season with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Faith Lutheran’s Kathleen Wright.

“I was a little nervous at the beginning,” Mitchell said. “It’s just amazing to do this.”

Mitchell breezed through both the region and state tournaments, barely threatened along the way. Mitchell dropped just six games in her six state tournament sets.

“I just tried to be more consistent and keep everything in play,” Mitchell said.

The Meadows’ Shalini Shah and Samantha Gondy gained a measure of redemption, winning the girls doubles title by downing teammates Olivia Waysack and Audrey Grigore, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.

Shah and Gondy finished second in the state last year.

“It just feels that much better,” Shah said. “We’ve always been close friends, and we know each other very well. We moved our feet today, and that really helped.”

After winning the opening set, Shah and Gondy served for the match at 5-4 in the second set, but lost the next three games before recovering to take the third set.

“We knew we wanted it more,” Gondy said.

Contact reporter Bartt Davis at bdavis@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-5230.