Irvine Valley's women's tennis team picked up an important victory in Orange Empire Conference play on Thursday at Riverside.
The Lasers, ranked No. 3 in Southern California, beat No. 8 Riverside to remain just a match behind Orange Coast for first place in the conference standings.
Irvine Valley improved its record to 8-2 overall and 4-1 in conference.
The Lasers trailed, 2-1, after the doubles round, but came back and won four of the six singles contests to take the match.
Irvine Valley received singles wins from freshman Halla Alajeely at the top spot, sophomore Fiorella Dreux at the No. 2 position, freshman Abigail Perez at No. 5 singles and sophomore Lauren MacDonnell at the sixth spot.
Alajeely continued her impressive season so far with a 6-0, 6-0 victory.
Dreux played well to beat Autumn Keay, 6-3, 6-2, Perez rolled in a 6-0, 6-2 victory and MacDonnell toughed out a 6-4, 6-4 win.
Irvine Valley picked up its lone doubles win from the No. 1 team of Alajeely and Dreux. The duo defeated Heather Graf and Emilia Lopez, 8-4.
Irvine Valley will play again on Tuesday at No. 7 Saddleback at 2 p.m. to open the second round of conference play.
Singles
1) Halla Alajeely (IVC) def. Ellia Rosado (RCC), 6-0, 6-0
2) Heather Graf (RCC) def. Ariana Hedayati (IVC), 6-1, 6-1
3) Fiorella Dreux (IVC) def. Autumn Keay (RCC), 6-3, 6-2
4) Emilia Lopez (RCC) def. Anna Krechetova (IVC), 6-4, 6-7, (13-11)
5) Abigail Perez (IVC) def. Mikahela Kahler (RCC), 6-0, 6-2
6) Lauren MacDonnell (IVC) def. Jolene Beaulieu (RCC), 6-4, 6-4
Doubles
1) Alajeely/Dreux (IVC) def. Graf/Lopez (RCC), 8-4
2) Kahler/Rosado (RCC) def. Hedayati/Perez (IVC), 8-2
3) Beaulieu/Keay (RCC) def. Krechetova/MacDonnell (IVC), 8-4
