Irvine Valley's women's tennis team stayed tied for first place in the Orange Empire Conference with an important 6-3 victory at rival Saddleback on Thursday afternoon.
Irvine Valley, Saddleback and Riverside all went into Thursday's action tied for first.
The IVC win wrapped up the first round of conference play.
Irvine Valley improved its record to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in conference. IVC is tied with Riverside at 4-1 for first with Orange Coast and Saddleback both a match back in the standings at 3-2.
Irvine Valley won four of six singles matches to get started on Thursday.
Sophomore Sarah Mae Garcia defeated Dominique Willette, 6-1, 6-4, on the second court and freshman Lorna Morris beat Joanna Colin, 6-0, 6-3, at No. 3 singles.
Freshman Fiorella Dreux came through with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Maria Battel at the fifth position and freshman Lauren MacDonnell defeated Chloe Fahimian at No. 6 singles to give IVC the lead heading into the doubles portion of the match.
In doubles, IVC wrapped up the team win with victories at the second and third spots.
The team of Baize and Morris won, 8-5, at No. 2 doubles and the duo of Paz and MacDonnell were 8-2 winners on the third doubles court.
Irvine Valley starts the second round of conference play next Tuesday at home with a match against Cypress at 2 p.m.
Singles
1) Jackie Melkonian (SC) def. Lou Baize (IVC), 6-1, 6-1
2) Sarah Mae Garcia (IVC) def. Dominique Willette (SC), 6-1, 6-4
3) Lorna Morris (IVC) def. Joanna Colin (SC), 6-0, 6-3
4) Kristina Parks (SC) def. Samantha Paz (IVC), 6-3, 6-2
5) Fiorella Dreux (IVC) def. Maria Battell (SC), 6-4, 6-4
6) Lauren MacDonnell (IVC) def. Chloe Fahimian (SC), 6-2, 6-1
Doubles
1) Colin/Melkonian (SC) def. Garcia/Dreux (IVC), 8-6
2) Baize/Morris (IVC) def. Willette/Parks (SC), 8-5
3) Paz/MacDonnell (IVC) def. Battel/Abril Marziali (SC), 8-2