DIFFERENT STROKES-Above, Royal's Katherine Villareal takes a powerful swing during Tuesday's match against Moorpark. Right, Lindsay Cochran goes low for the ball near the baseline. The Musketeers beat the Highlanders 14-4. Although a Marmonte League girls' tennis title may now be out of reach because of the great play of Calabasas High, Moorpark is still making a run at second place.

On Tuesday, the Musketeers inched a little closer by beating Royal 14-4 at Royal High.

The win improved Moorpark's record to 6-3 in the Marmonte League. The loss put Royal's record in league at 1-8.

Moorpark had no problem taking care of the Highlanders due to the great play of its doubles teams.

The doubles for Moorpark ran the table against Royal, winning all nine games. In fact, the Musketeers were so dominant in the doubles department that they only lost 15 points while winning 54.

Playing especially well were MHS senior Chelsea Medlin and freshman Chrissy Jacobs.

Medlin and Jacobs beat Royal's Melissa Medina and Anne Carman 6-1, Katherine Villareal and Daniela Berbal 6-0, and Cassie Johnson and Jenni Lopez 6-2.

"I think we pump each other up very well," Medlin said. "We never get down on each other and it seems like we have been playing together for a very long time. She has a strong forehand where I am the opposite and have a strong backhand."

Moorpark head coach Sandra Jacobs was impressed with her team's doubles play, but not surprised.

"The doubles team is what we count on to get most of our wins," Coach Jacobs said. "They swept Thousand Oaks recently as well, so they've been playing great."

The doubles weren't the only bright spot for MHS, as junior Kim Kolibas, the teams' No. 1 single player, won all three of her games as well.

Kolibas beat Lindsay Cochran in a tough match 64, and then disposed of Tatyana Sukharnikova and Vanessa DeLeon rather easily, beating each of them 6-2.

"I was trying today to be more consistent," Kolibas said. "I tried to concentrate really hard on each point instead of just trying to hit the ball as hard as I could. I think my serve still needs a little work, but I liked my net play today."

Although Cochran lost to Kolibas in a tight game, she played well for Royal, beating Roxana Moradi 6-1 and Shalini Karra 6-2.

DeLeon and Sukharnikova each won one game for Royal.

"We've improved a lot since we played them last time in singles, so I'm happy with that," Royal head coach Jane Forrester said.

"The doubles play is another story. Their doubles is great as they have a lot of returning players on their doubles teams. We are a younger team and played most of our returning players on the singles courts. Our doubles didn't play well but they are improving, too. I'm impressed with their learning since they now make a mistake and realize it so they won't do it again," she said.

Forrester was impressed with the play of Cochran, even though she lost a tough match to Kolibas.

"She did a lot of tournament play over the summer and it's really helped her game," Forrester said. "I think it has especially helped her mental game as she now goes into every game with a couple of game plans before playing an opponent. Her net game has really improved, too."

"She played very well in all of her games. Moorpark's No. 1

singles player (Kolibas) is great and tough to beat," the coach said. "She is very tall and has a great wingspan, so she is able to get to a lot of balls."

Moorpark is hoping to ride the momentum they've gained into their match next Tuesday against Westlake.

"We need to do very well against Westlake," Medlin said. "They are basically our main competition now with Calabasas playing so well. Chrissy and I need to keep doing what we are doing against them, as we won all our games against them last time. This match was good practice for us to go into a tough game against Westlake."