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Cate’s Carol Cai/Grace Fuss Were the Dominant Doubles Team in County

 April 20, 2020
The Cate doubles team of Carol Cai and Grace Fuss advanced to the Round of 16 in the CIF-Southern Section Individual Tournament.

Cate School’s Carol Cai and Grace Fuss were double trouble for opponents on the tennis court.

There was no better doubles team in the county. The Cate co-captains led the Rams to a 10-0 regular season record, including wins over Channel League schools Santa Barbara High, San Marcos and Dos Pueblos, a Tri-Valley League title and a fourth straight CIF-SS Division 1 playoff appearance.

In the Southern Section individual tournament, the Rams senior duo advanced to Round of 16.

Cai and Fuss are being honored as the High School Girls Tennis Co-Players of the Year by the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Round Table is recognizing its high school and college athletes of the year through a virtual Evening With the Athletes. The award winners are being presented through the Round Table’s social media platforms Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and on the Noozhawk.com Sports Page.

Tuesday’s Award: Girls Golf

“I’m very excited for Grace and Carol to be receiving the player of the year award as a doubles team,” Cate tennis coach Trevor Thorpe said.

Thorpe calls Fuss “an absolute game changer.” She played No. 1 singles all four seasons at Cate and twice finished as runner-up in the league individual tournament.

In doubles, she won two TVL titles with Cai.

“Even though she came in as a nationallyranked singles player, it was incredible to watch Grace develop from a gritty, defensive-minded player into a powerful, confident striker who was a force in both singles and doubles,” said Thorpe.

Cai never lost a match in Tri-Valley League play and finished her high school career as a four-time league doubles champion.

“It’s hard to understate what Carol has been for this Cate team,” said Thorpe of the doubles specialist with killer instincts and quick hands.

Cai twice reached the CIF Round of 16, first as a sophomore with her older sister, Jackie, and this past season with Fuss.

“It’s hard to argue that Carol is probably the most dominant doubles player in Cate school history,” said Thorpe.

— Noozhawk sports editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk Sports on Twitter: @NoozhawkSports. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.