Central Valley's varsity girls tennis team had its season cut short by crosstown-rival Ceres High in 2016.

The Bulldogs edged the Hawks 5-4 on their way to securing the Western Athletic Conference's third-and-final playoff spot.

Central Valley won the previous two meetings by identical 5-4 scores.

"We had a chance to make playoffs last year but we lost that last match," Hawks' head coach Mike Rodriguez said.

Visiting Central Valley dominated Ceres High 9-0 during their first meeting of the 2017 WAC season on Oct. 3.

"They have a lot of new players," Rodriguez said. "We have a lot of returners. We're just more experienced than them. That was the key."

Third-place Central Valley improved its head-to-head record versus Ceres High to 8-16.

"We're on the winning cycle right now," Rodriguez said. "We've leveled the playing field."

Central Valley swept all six singles and three doubles matches in shutting out Ceres High.

Guadalupe Becerra defeated Vivian Moreno 6-2, 6-0 in No. 1 singles play.

Gianna Arce defeated Shania Evans 6-4, 6-4 in No. 2 singles play.

Adriana Escobedo defeated Harmen Bahia 6-1, 6-1 in No. 3 singles play.

Suinana Dhillon defeated Camille Vega 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 in No. 4 singles play.

Mixtly Vega defeated Ariel Coria 6-1, 7-6 (9-7) in No. 5 singles play.

Elisabeth Valdez defeated Tania Garfias 6-4, 6-2 in No. 6 singles play.

Daniela Yepez and Nayeli Castellanos defeated Morgan Bejaran and Kayla Sierras 6-3, 6-0 in No. 1 doubles play.

Lizbeth Martinez and Christina Hermenegildo defeated Gurmen Bahia and Jillian Jimenez 6-1, 6-2 in No. 2 doubles play.

Jocelyn Rodriguez and Virginia Moore defeated Elena Ochoa and Vanessa Salas 6-4, 6-1 in No. 3 doubles play.

The Hawks have won eight of their last nine meetings versus the Bulldogs dating back to the 2013 campaign.

"We treat it like another match," coach Rodriguez said. "We do a pretty good job of staying focused."

Central Valley improved to 4-2 in the WAC standings following Thursday's 8-1 home triumph against Livingston.

The Hawks won all three doubles and five of six singles matches versus the Wolves.

Yepez and Castellanos defeated Analucia Fuentes and Ariana Walker 6-0, 6-2 in No. 1 doubles play.

Martinez and Hermenegildo defeated Diana Rocha and Jennifer Garcia 6-0, 6-1 in No. 2 doubles play.

Rodriguez and Moore defeated Yvette Alvarez and Stefanie Ramos 6-0, 6-0 in No. 3 doubles play.

Becerra defeated Gabriela Ramirez 6-3, 6-0 in No. 1 singles play.

Arce defeated Erica Lomeli 6-0, 6-2 in No. 2 singles play.

Escobedo defeated Migdalya Pacheco 6-2, 6-2 in No. 3 singles play.

Dhillon defeated Viridiana Cerda 6-4, 6-2 in No. 4 singles play.

Valdez defeated Berenice Arias 6-0, 6-1 in No. 5 singles play.

Vega lost 6-4, 6-2 to Esmeralda Ramos in No. 6 singles play.

Central Valley has participated in the playoffs two out of the past three years.

The Hawks made their first-ever postseason appearance in 2014.

"I give credit to the girls to being committed to the program," coach Rodriguez said. "This is one of the most, mellow teams I've had. We got an experienced group."