The Bruin co-ed tennis team played all the way to the finals in last week’s Sac-Joaquin Section Tournament, coming in at second place, falling in the finale to Placer.

Riverbank beat both Colfax and Lindhurst 5-4 in quarterfinal and semifinal action before traveling to Auburn to take on the Placer Hillmen team on Thursday. There, they were defeated 9-0 with three close matches, according to coach Bruce Edwards, with host Placer taking the blue section banner.

“In girls singles second seed, Lili Trevino, lost 7-6 and 6-4 in a match that lasted over two hours,” Edwards said.

She won earlier round matches in the tournament by two sets in each.

Edwards noted that the mixed doubles team of Selena Garcia and Marcos Viera played well but lost 7-6 and 6-4, also.

“In second seed girls doubles number two team of Alondra and Carla Ibarra lost in three sets that played nearly two and a half hours.”

The other players ahead of Riverbank’s were USTA players or have been having lessons for years, Edwards said.

“We feel very proud and accomplished at having placed so well in the tournament,” the coach said.

Bruin players Alex Alfaro and Jessica Vasquez each placed fourth in singles at the Section Tournament, Edwards reported.

“It is the highest we have ever placed in singles at sections,” he said. “The overall winners were students from other countries. The girl was from the Netherlands and the boy winner is the top junior player from Guatemala.”

Edwards noted that the other teams Riverbank faced in the tournament had far larger school enrollments. He said Colfax is at 864, Sonora is 1242 and Lindhurst is 1246. Winning Placer’s student body numbers 1364, while Riverbank has just 744 students.

The coach noted the team “gained valuable experience” in the Section finale and players were proud of their efforts when leaving the courts.

“Most said it was fun playing very good opponents,” Edwards said.