Prior to its match against Ripon High on April 17, the Orestimba High tennis team was third in Trans-Valley League standings. This meant the team would make the postseason as the top three teams in the league qualify.

However, things took a turn for the worse as the Warriors lost 5-4. This resulted in the Indians jumping to the third seed. From that point on, the final three matches of the regular season were “must wins”, said head coach Nolan Osborn.

“As long as we win our next couple of matches and win by a decent margin, we still have a chance,” Osborn previously told the Westside Connect.

With pressure on the team, Orestimba won emphatically against Millennium High and Hughson High, setting up a critical match against River Islands High on Friday. Regardless of the outcome of Ripon’s match against Hughson, the Warriors needed a win for a postseason spot.

With its back against the wall, Orestimba pulled away with a 5-4 against the Riptide, officially qualifying for the San Joaquin Section Division I coed tennis postseason.

In just his second season at the helm, Osborn has formed a winning culture, which is a far cry from the last season where development was a focal point. He credited the turnaround to the growth in the player’s development, both in their skillset and emotions.

“A lot of my top players, not only skill wise, [were] in control of their [emotions] and just in their mental game,” Osborn said. “Significantly improved there, and that kind of really impacted the rest of the team.”

After losing both of its boys singles matches, the Warriors faced a 2-0 deficit heading into the girls singles. When her team needed spark the most, Mirella Fregoso stepped up as she won her matchup against Tanishka Singh through three sets, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3. With the win, she finished as the TVL’s top player in the girls singles at 12-2.

River Islands responded back with Kayzin Singh winning her singles match against Ashlynn Bell in three sets, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Facing a 3-1 deficit, Orestimba’s Kevin Rodriguez and Aaron Gallardo handled their doubles matches through two sets, 6-3, 6-2. After losing the opening set, Jose Rodriguez and Nabeel Ali won the next sets, 6-2, 6-3, to win their boys doubles match and tie the match.

With three matches remaining, the Warriors only needed to win two to keep its season alive. And Orestimba did just that by sweeping the Riptides in the girls doubles. Sofiah Ramirez and Mallory Solano held River Islands scoreless through their two-set win, 6-0, 6-0. The Warriors clinched the match after Abigail Layne and Samantha Aguilar won their match against Hailey Nguyen and Jasmine Anselmo in two sets, 6-1, 6-3.

With the postseason looming ahead, the team will shift its focus to the TVL tournament later this week.