Layzer weathers storm, but not injury

Encinal coach Melissa Abadia treats Sofia Layzer during the WACC Singles Final (Photo by Mr. Linville)

While waiting for the skies to clear, Encinal Junior Sofia Layzer had time to contemplate the significance of the blisters forming on her hands from the previous day's matches. Layzer was slated to play in the WACC Shoreline Singles Final on November 5 at 9:30 AM, but rainy weather pushed the match back to noon.

The injury proved too difficult to overcome as Layzer fell 6-4, 6-1 to San Leandro's Tina Fang at Chabot College.

"The rain didn’t affect me at all," said Layzer. "But the blister made it so my hand hurt when I gripped the racket. So it was hurting to even hold the racket. We tried bandages but they didn’t stay on."

The loss only slightly dampened Encinal's top singles player, who went a perfect 9-0 this season and was named Shoreline Division Player of the Year.

"I’m pretty proud of myself. I’ve been sick for the past week...," said Layzer. "Today, I played with a blister on my hand. Gripping the racket was difficult but I managed to pull through the match. And I ended up with 2nd place."

Encinal Junior Sofia Layzer serves during the second set of the tournament final on November 5 at Chabot College. (Image by Mr. Linville)

Layzer, who was the number one seed in the tournament, received a first-round bye before beating Mariam Shakaha 6-2, 6-2 and #4 Jessica Tsubamoto 7-5, 6-4. The Pirates' Fang entered the tournament unseeded, but upset #2 Hailey Kautz in the second round and #3 Ewan Sun in the third round.

"Sofia is not only a skilled player; but has the mental game as well," said coach Melissa Abadia. "She never lets herself get down and always strategizes to pull herself back into a winning position."