Two Irvine Valley tennis players earned awards recently by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association for California community colleges.
Freshman women's player Halla Alajeely was named the Rookie of the Year and freshman men's player Michael Bott was picked as a Player to Watch by the ITA.
Alajeely was named the co-Orange Empire Conference singles player of the year and she reached the semifinals of the CCCAA State Championship in singles at the Ojai 118th Annual Tournament last month.
On the season, Alajeely had a record of 15-2 in singles, playing at the No. 1 position. And one of her defeats came because of a retirement due to injury.
Teaming up in doubles, Alajeely and sophomore Fiorella Dreux reached the quarterfinals at the state event. The duo ended up with a record of 14-4 on the year in doubles.
She helped Irvine Valley finish with a record of 13-4 overall and take second in conference with a 8-2 mark. The team made the semifinals of the CCCAA Team Dual Playoffs, losing to eventual state champion Cerritos.
Bott had a record of 9-5 in singles all at the No. 1 position for Irvine Valley. And in doubles he went 10-6 with freshman teammate Thallys Santos at the No. 1 spot.
Bott and Santos reached the semifinals of the CCCAA State Championship, winning four matches in the event.
He reached the quarterfinals in singles at state.
Bott helped Irvine Valley to a 6-10 overall and a 6-4 mark in conference. IVC also made the Southern California Regional Team Playoffs.
