Irvine Valley's women's tennis team begins its 2019 season on Tuesday with a home match against Santa Barbara City at 2 p.m.
The Lasers, led by returning All-American and Orange Empire Conference co-most valuable player Halla Alajeely, had a record of 13-4 overall, reached the semifinals of the So. Cal. Team Playoffs and ended up being ranked No. 5 in the state.
Irvine Valley also went 8-2 and took second in the conference standings.
Alajeely made it to the semifinals in singles at the California Community College Athletic Association State Championships and reached the quarterfinals in the doubles competition with sophomore teammate Fiorella Dreux.
Alajeely was picked as a JUCO All-American in both singles and doubles at the end of the year.
She had a record of 15-2 in singles on the year.
Irvine Valley defeated Santa Barbara City in the opening round of the team playoffs last year before losing to eventual state champion Cerritos in a semifinal.
Santa Barbara City defeated a short-handed Cerritos team, 6-3, in its opener last week. Cerritos suited up just four players and was down, 3-0, as the match started.
After taking on Santa Barbara City Tuesday, the Lasers are scheduled to host College of the Desert weather permitting on Thursday at home.
