Women's tennis team still battling for a conference title

Women's tennis team still battling for a conference title

The Irvine Valley women's tennis team stayed in the mix at the top of the Orange Empire Conference standings with a 6-3 victory over Saddleback at home on Thursday.

With the win, Irvine Valley remained in a virtual tie with Orange Coast for first place with Riverside just a match back.

Irvine Valley, ranked No. 1 in Southern California in the last Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll, improved its record to 10-3 overall and 7-2 in conference.

The Lasers are trying to earn their first ever conference title.

Irvine Valley finishes the regular season with a match at Riverside next Tuesday. Riverside sits at 6-3 in conference and defeated the Lasers the first the two teams met.

Orange Coast has a record of 6-2 overall. OCC and IVC split matches during conference play.

The Pirates are at Cypress next Tuesday and home to Fullerton next Thursday to end the regular season.

Saddleback's record fell to 9-6 overall and 5-4 in conference with the defeat.

Irvine Valley won four of five matches in singles and two of three matches in doubles to secure the victory.

IVC sophomore Sarah Mae Garcia defeated Jackie Melkonian, 7-5, 6-2, at No. 2 singles, freshman Lorna Morris beat Kristina Parks, 6-0, 6-3, at the third spot, freshman Fiorella Dreux came out on top over Abril Marziali, 6-3, 6-1, in the fourth position and freshman Lauren MacDonnell was a 6-1, 6-4 winner at No. 6 singles for IVC.

In doubles, IVC got wins from its No. 2 team of Baize and Morris and No. 3 team of MacDonnell and sophomore Samantha Paz.

Singles

1) Dominique Willette (SC) def. Lou Baize (IVC), 6-2, 6-1

2) Sarah Mae Garcia (IVC) def. Jackie Melkonian (SC), 7-5, 6-2

3) Lorna Morris (IVC) def. Kristina Parks (SC), 6-0, 6-3

4) Joanna Colin (SC) def. Samantha Paz (IVC), 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4)

5) Fiorella Dreux (IVC) def. Abril Marziali (SC), 6-3, 6-1

6) Lauren MacDonnell (IVC) def. Chloe Fahimian (SC), 6-1, 6-4

Doubles

1) Colin/Melkonian (SC) def. Garcia/Dreux (IVC), 8-1

2) Baize/Morris (IVC) def. Willette/Parks (SC), 9-8 (5)

3) Paz/MacDonnell (IVC) def. Fahimian/Marziali (SC), 8-2