It’s clear after just two Foothill League boys tennis matches that Valencia’s competition won’t be in the Foothill League.
The Vikings defeated Hart at Valencia High on Thursday 17-1.

After two league matches, Valencia, which has won nine of the last 10 Foothill titles, owns a 35-1 sets advantage over its league opponents.

“Of course, yes,” said Hart head coach Chris Mansfield on if Valencia will run away with the Foothill League title in 2012. “The battle will be for the rest of the spots.”

Valencia (7-3 overall, 2-0 Foothill League) dropped just five games in singles.

Joey Fernicola swept 6-0, 6-0, 6-0 and J.R. Macalutas dropped just one game in a three-set sweep.

Chris Pope won 6-2, 6-2, 6-0.

“I thought we were good. You see the boys playing all fall, but you really don’t know what other teams have until you play,” said Valencia head coach Annie Kellogg. “I thought we were solid. I definitely am excited, but also this is the Foothill League this year. There are a ton of other great schools out there (in the division).”

That’s not to say Valencia is overlooking anyone in the Foothill.

In fact, Kellogg said despite the scores, her players talked up the Indians (5-4, 1-1) after the match.

Tommy Labat and Rohan Shankar were the only Hart players to pull off a set win as they beat Jon Ramirez and Brandon Miller 6-2 in doubles.

“They weren’t afraid of them, and they got their confidence going,” Mansfield said of his players. “It sounds strange, but when you play a good team and hang in there, even though the score doesn’t show it, you feel you can hang in there with anybody — just not another Valencia.”

David Myers and Cameron Braun took three sets in doubles 6-1, 6-0 and 6-0.

Jorriel Malabanan and Chad LeDuff won 6-1, 6-4 and 6-1 for Valencia.