Clovis West’s Janie Ellis rallies for Central Section tennis singles crown

Top-seeded Janie Ellis of Clovis West High stumbled at the start of the Central Section girls tennis singles championship.

But after dropping the first set, the sophomore regained the poise and focus that had made her one of the top players in the Valley this season.

Ellis never let up on a comeback, rallying for a 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory against No. 2 Sravya Gudipudi of Buchanan to win the section crown Saturday in Visalia.

Ellis defeated No. 4 Elizabeth Schulz of Clovis North in a semifinal earlier in the day.

In the other semifinal, Gudipudi topped last year’s champion, Chelsey Ruiz of Bullard to ensure a new winner would be crowned.

In doubles, Buchanan’s Lasya Gudipudi and Lauren Lee took the final 6-2, 6-2 against Stockdale’s Emily Horrigan and Erica Paradise.

Behind aggressive play at the net, Gudipudi and Lee closed out another match in straight sets while finishing undefeated. They never were pushed to a third set.

“They had a good run,” Buchanan coach Jonathan Slater said. “Their ability to play strong at the net, like they did in the championship, is a reason they haven’t lost all year.”

This story was originally published November 7, 2015 at 8:50 PM with the headline "Clovis West’s Janie Ellis rallies for Central Section tennis singles crown."