After playing state powerhouse Grossmont to a draw in singles on Tuesday in a first-round South Regional women’s tennis match, SBCC dropped two doubles matches and lost a tough 5-3 decision in El Cajon.
“It was a real heartbreaker,” said coach Debbie Ekola. “We had this one on our racquets.”
Amy Sagraves, Meike van Hoogenhuijze and Kendra Ross posted singles wins for the WSC runner-up Vaqueros (10-4), who had their four-match win streak snapped. Anna Slyutova lost a close 6-4, 7-6 (2) decision at No. 5 singles.
In doubles, Jami Thomas-Lupita Sandoval edged Van Hoogenhuijze and Slyutova 7-6 (2), 6-3 at No. 3 to secure the fifth point.
Grossmont, an 11-time state champion, was seeded third in the eight-team regional while SBCC was fifth. The Griffins, champions of the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference, are 16-1 this year.
“It came down to who wanted it more,“ said Ekola. “We gave it our best shot. This was as close as a first-round match can be.”
SBCC was leading in No. 2 doubles when the match was called because Grossmont got the fifth point. Betsy Sauer and Ross of the Vaqueros were ahead 4-6, 6-3, 2-0.
Four Vaqueros will compete in the Ojai Tournament, which starts on April 28. Sauer, Sagraves and Nicci Yvanovich are entered in singles with Yvanovich-Sagraves and Sauer-Ross competing in doubles.
At El Cajon
Grossmont 5, SBCC 3.
Singles–Jazmin Ortiz, G, def. Betsy Sauer 6-2, 6-0; Sharon Reibstein, G, def. Nicci Yvanovich 6-1, 6-1; Amy Sagraves, SB, def. Margaux Lawton 6-4, 6-2; Meike van Hoogenhuijze, SB, def. Alexis Ronney 6-4, 6-3; Jami Thomas, G, def. Anna Slyutova 6-4, 7-6 (2); Kendra Ross, SB, def. Lupita Sandoval 7-6, 6-0. Doubles–Ortiz-Reibstein, G, def. Yvanovich-Sagraves 6-2, 6-2; Thomas-Sandoval, G, def. Van Hoogenhuijze-Slyutova 7-6 (2), 6-3. Records–SB 10-4; GC 16-1.
