The Cerritos College women’s tennis team have been seeded first in the Southern California Regional playoffs after winning the South Coast Conference tournament.
The Falcons played a final doubles match in which sophomore Lisa Suzuki and freshman Kseniia Prokopchuk teamed up against El Camino College.
The match was won by the Falcon pair 8-1, and now they improved their record to 22-0 this year.
Suzuki and Prokopchuk although partners in the doubles matches, were pitted against each other for a final singles match.
Suzuki came out victorious against Prokopchuk in the singles match 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
The match was a long lasting three sets between the teammates, back and forth play, filled with intensity.
This loss for Prokopchuk was her second loss this year in the singles, now with a record of 23-2, while Suzuki improved her record to 18-3.
Previously on the weekend before the finals of the South Coast Conference tournament the Falcons played the lead up matches to the finals.
Suzuki won her quarterfinals match against Maddie Giese of El Camino College (6-4, 6-1) and the semifinals match against Lina Ito of El Camino College (6-1, 6-1).
Prokopchuk was up against very own teammates winning her quarterfinals match against sophomore Itzi Torres and against the second seeded sophomore Petra Such.
All six single players and the three double duos qualified for the CCCAA State Championships which will be taking place on April 26 in Ojai.
Head Coach Quinn Caldaron spoke on day two of the South Coast Conference tournament, “I don’t think they all felt like they played their best tennis today and sometimes that happens.”
With Such and freshman Moa Lidström losing to El Camino College in the doubles match 8-6, Caldaron says, “After watching the last doubles, a lot of the matches on the women’s side have been going fairly easy.
“They [Such and Lidström] haven’t really had to fight, like they fought in that match. They fought really hard and tried, but there were a few things that we’re gonna go back and practice.”
Caldaron has the confidence that the depth of the women’s team will guide them through playoffs and will rely on the individuals to work hard.
Finishing undefeated against all junior colleges Caldaron said, “It gives the girls a lot of confidence that we’re gonna be able to go out and keep going, but you never know when the pressure’s on and this is when it really counts.”
The women’s tennis team finished the season 21-1 overall and 6-0 in conference play.
The Falcons are headed into the playoffs up against San Diego City College in the first round at home on April 10.
