Vikings secure best record since 2010 with 5-4 win over Rio Hondo
The Long Beach City College women’s tennis team pulled off a 5-4 South Coast Conference win over Rio Hondo College on Thursday at LBCC. A win at No. 3 doubles by Judith Aguilar (left) and Janine Garcia (right) sealed the team victory for the Vikings. (Photos by Chris Ruiz)
The Long Beach City College women's tennis team pulled off a 5-4 South Coast Conference win over Rio Hondo College on Thursday at LBCC for their third victory of the season.
The match came down to the wire as the Vikings won the final match of the day to earn the win.
LBCC opened the match with singles victories by Marianne Tigas at No. 1, Judith Aguilar at No. 2, and Janine Garcia at No. 6.
Long Beach and Rio Hondo split doubles matches as Tigas and Dolores Cervantez were winners at No. 1. The match came down to No. 3 doubles where Aguilar and Garcia pulled out an 8-4 win over Rio Hondo's Jessica Xie and Pamela Dutcherman to secure the team victory for the Vikings.
The Vikings close out the 2014 regular-season schedule with a 3-9 overall and conference record. It was a good starting point for first-year head coach Ken Thomas and a young LBCC squad comprised of all freshmen.
Long Beach hadn't won a match since 2010, going a combined 0-37 over the past three seasons. LBCC compiled a 3-7 overall record in 2010.
"Not bad at all considering the history of this program," Thomas said of the 2014 season. "We barely had enough students to form a team back on January 14. The ladies on this team truly worked hard all season and never gave up. For many of them, it was the first time they played tennis."
"I am extremely, extremely proud of them," he added. "They exemplify what a LBCC student-athlete should be. It was my pleasure to coach them. It was a great group to work with."
Postseason play for LBCC begins next week when the Vikings will compete at the SCC Championships on April 10-12 at Cerritos College.
Singles
#1: Marianne Tigas (LBCC) defeats Stephanie Rodriguez (RIO) 6-3, 6-1
#2: Judith Aguilar (LBCC) defeats Kimberly Ly (RIO) 6-3, 6-1
#3: Delia Hidalgo (RIO) defeats Dolores Cervantez (LBCC) 6-2, 6-0
#4: Pamela Duchterman (RIO) defeats Kailyn Ortiz (LBCC) 6-0, 6-2
#5: Jessica Xie (RIO) defeats Chaira Freedom (LBCC) 6-0, 6-1
#6: Janine Garcia (LBCC) defeats Mindy Lujan (RIO) 6-2, 6-3
#1: Tigas / Cervantez (LBCC) def. Rodriguez / Hidalgo (RIO) 8-3
#2: Ly / Medina (RIO) def. Anamarie Cortez / Ortiz (LBCC) 8-0
#3: Aguilar / Garcia (LBCC) def. Xie / Dutcherman (RIO) 8-4