GIRLS TENNIS: VALENCIA RUN ENDS IN FINAL BRENTWOOD 10, VALENCIA 8.

Byline: Erik Boal Special to the Daily News

CLAREMONT - Nearly an hour after their match against Brentwood ended on Monday, members of the Valencia High girls' tennis team were still hanging around center court at The Claremont Club.

For some Vikings, their trip to the Southern Section Div. III final was a journey three years in the making. They wanted their moment in the spotlight to last as long as possible.

Surrounded by such storied programs as Peninsula of Rolling Hills Estates, Laguna Beach, Beverly Hills and Troy of Fullerton, the second-seeded Vikings left a lasting impression on parents, spectators and coaches from several schools with their performance against Brentwood.

In the end, even Valencia's best wasn't enough to deny the top-seeded Eagles a championship, as sisters Austin and Logan Hansen combined to win six sets in Brentwood's 10-8 victory. But the Eagles' sixth title in 16 years didn't come without a serious challenge from an opponent that didn't look anything like a team making its first appearance in a division final.

``They have great talent on their team and a deep lineup. We had a great time playing them,'' said Virginia- bound Austin Hansen, who clinched the match with a 6-1 victory over Cassie Strange in the final round, giving the Eagles an insurmountable 20-game lead with three sets remaining.

``This is incredibly overwhelming. It makes me speechless. It's such a great way to go out like this.''

Both Hansen sisters were injured and reduced to the role of spectators during last year's championship match, won by Campbell Hall of North Hollywood 12-6. Valencia ended Campbell Hall's two-year run as champion with an 11-7 victory in Thursday's semifinals.

Although Brentwood had to overcome injuries to return to the final this season, the presence of the Hansen sisters in the lineup was the difference Monday, as they helped the Eagles (17-4) break a 6-6 tie after two rounds with convincing victories.

Erik Boal, [phone]

erik.boal(at)dailynews.com