Benicia High’s girls tennis team clinched its fourth straight Solano County Athletic Conference championship with an 8-1 victory over visiting Vanden last Thursday.

It was the 58th straight SCAC victory for the Lady Panthers (11-0 SCAC) dating back to 2012, an ongoing conference record. Vanden dropped to 7-4 and lost all three meetings with Benicia this season.

Benicia No. 1 singles player Lily Hayward won 6-2, 6-1 to remain undefeated this season. Benicia has lost only 2-of-66 SCAC singles matches all year.

“Lily was playing her best tennis to date,” said Benicia head coach Lisa Burton. “Her deep-forcing power shots and line-skimming accuracy was superb.”

Melanie Fisher, Madeline Beyer, Emily Jewik, Madison Lammert and Kaitlyn Tang are also undefeated this season. Fisher won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2 singles Thursday while Beyer won 6-0, 6-2 at No. 3 singles. Jewik won her No. 4 match 6-0, 6-0, Lammert was a 6-0, 6-1 winner at No. 5, and Tang won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 6.

“Melanie was also on fire, executing the majority of offensive plays,” Burton said. “Madeline bettered her score against Simone Darbonne and only dropped two games, and most of Emily’s balls were so low and fast I thought they were going into the net, but to the opponent’s surprise they were good. Madison and Kaitlyn both out-rallied and offensively placed more balls than earlier matches.”

Katie Voss and Mariah McNally teamed up for a 6-4, 6-2 victory in No. 1 doubles. Kati Steineman and Neha Yadav were 6-2, 6-3 winners in No. 2 doubles. Benicia’s only setback came in No. 3 doubles where Sam Pacheco and Viva Traver lost a 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 13-11 heartbreaker.

Benicia hosts American Canyon on Tuesday.

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