After finishing the regular season in second place in the Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa Division, Pioneer didn't automatically qualify for the Central Coast Section playoffs. However, coach Julie Szarlacki decided to apply for one of the wild card spots available.

To the delight of the Mustangs, they received the bid to participate in the playoffs and had a first-round match against Monterey High School. Pioneer made the most of the opportunity as the Mustangs volleyed, lobbed and smashed their way to a 5-2 victory. It was the first time ever that Pioneer had won a match in team play in the CCS playoffs.

The Mustangs took the match by winning three of the four singles matches and two of three in doubles. Misa Tanaka (No. 1 singles), Camille Brown (No. 2 singles) and Kameron Brown (No. 3 singles) were winners along with Megan Miller and Jen Yoder (No. 2 doubles) and Justine Kirkeide and Shira Strauss (No. 3 doubles). Both Lianna Wong (No. 4 singles) and Marieka Stulp and Giana Flores (No. 1 doubles) ran into some tough competition and came up short.

The win earned Pioneer the right to face No. 5 seed and powerhouse Pinewood in the second round. Pinewood had just too much experience and ability as they took the Mustangs 7-0.

"I was very happy with our CCS performance," said Szarlacki. "The girls did a great job. We went further than we expected and had a very successful season."

The Mustangs will still have to keep an eye on the CCS playoffs, as they will be represented by Tanaka in the individual CCS tournament play. She will square off against the No. 3 seed from Menlo School.

Leland, meanwhile, lost a tough battle in a very close match when Homestead edged the Chargers 4-3 in the first round of CCS playoff team competition.

Myra Davoudi took her No. 1 singles match and kept her undefeated mark in place. The other two victories were by Roxy Pourmirzaie (No. 3 singles) and Connie Wang (No. 4 singles). Roshie Larijani dropped her No. 2 singles match.

The difference in the team match, though, was when Leland was unable to pick up a victory in doubles play. Melissa Joe and Alison Keiley (No. 1), Carla Abi-samra and Judy Yang (No. 2), and Janelle Flores and Rina Parmeshwar (No. 3) all came up on the short end of the score.

"The result of our CCS play was disappointing to the girls," said Leland coach Nicole Arnold. "We thought and expected that we would go to at least the second round."

The Chargers still have some cheering to do since they will have two representatives in the individual CCS tournament play. Davoudi will compete on the singles side of the tourney and faces a tough draw right from the start as she goes up against the No. 1 seed in the tournament from St. Francis. On the doubles side, the Chargers didn't fare much better. Their team of Kiely and Joe will also face the No. 1 seed from Menlo School in first round competition.

All individual singles and doubles tournament play will be held at Courtside Tennis Club in Los Gatos on Nov. 24 and Nov. 25.