TENNIS NOTEBOOK: SCHEDULE ALLOWS HIGHLAND TO WARM UP FOR QUARTZ HILL.

Byline: Lauren Gustus Staff Writer

Highland girls' tennis coach Linda Ruiz is vacationing in the Bahamas, even though it's the middle of the season. But there's no reason for her to worry while she's away, as the Bulldogs (2-0 in the Golden League) faced Littlerock on Tuesday and plays Lancaster today. It would be an upset if Highland lost to either team.

The Bulldogs will be led by junior-varsity coach Tuck Ruiz during the week Linda is away.

``We're not playing that tough of schools,'' said the Bulldogs' No. 1 player, Diana Georgescu. ``And we're pretty confident in ourselves.''

The Bulldogs opened league play last week by dominating Palmdale 14-4 and Antelope Valley 15-3. Georgescu has yet to drop a set in league play.

The Bulldogs have a league schedule other teams might envy. Highland opened with easier matches in the first week of play. But this week, the Bulldogs face a competitive Lancaster team today. On Tuesday, they will square off against defending league champion Quartz Hill.

``It's good because it warms up the girls,'' Georgescu said. ``Some of the weaker players can get better.''

Ruiz will be back in time for Highland's match with Quartz Hill.

Home court usually is an advantage for Quartz Hill, which has a site that's notoriously windy. But Highland has no courts at the high school, so it also plays matches at Quartz Hill and will be just as prepared for the weather conditions as the Rebels.

Highland matches up well with Quartz Hill. Both have tournament players at No. 1 singles, Georgescu of Highland and Sonya Reynolds of Quartz Hill.

And both have freshmen at the No. 2 spot - Zhara Ghorbani of Highland and Prapti Singh of Quartz Hill. Tuesday's matchup will be the first of many between the two.

``She lost her first match to Bridget Grover of Antelope Valley,'' Georgescu said of Ghorbani. ``But other than that, she's won them all. She's a really good player, but she's not tournament-smart yet. She can panic when she gets in big plays.''

--Even for now: Lancaster split its first week of league play, which also is where coach Kurt Webendorfer thinks his team is with the best in the Golden League.

``My team understands that it's kind of even-steven between the three of us,'' said Webendorfer, referring to Quartz Hill and Highland.

The Eagles beat Antelope Valley 12-6 last week but lost at Quartz Hill 14-4 in their opener.

``It was tough opening up with Quartz Hill,'' Webendorfer said. ``And I didn't try to pump my girls up. I let them be. And I'm not going to do it for Highland, either. They know what's on the line.''

Doubles will be the determining factor for not only the Eagles but the rest of the league, Webendorfer said.

``Doubles will be the tell-all for the league,'' he said.

If his doubles can earn points, Lancaster could knock off Highland. Against Quartz Hill, the Eagles' doubles teams couldn't do much and Karen Zimmerman, the Eagles' No. 1 player, won half of Lancaster's four points.

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Highland High will rely on freshman Zhara Ghorbani at No. 2 singles.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer