It took more than a last-minute replacement to stop the postseason run of SBCC’s Nicci Yvanovich, who won two matches with new partner Betsy Sauer on Friday to reach the semifinals of the Community College State Women‘s Tennis Championships in Fresno.
Yvanovich’s doubles partner, Amy Sagraves, had to withdraw due to personal reasons.
Sauer took her place and played doubles with Yvanovich for the first time on Friday‘s opening day of the State Championships. Yvanovich would have been seeded No. 3 in doubles but she and Sauer were dropped to the No. 8 seed from Southern Cal.
The Santa Barbara duo stunned Alex McDonald-Nicole Simoni, the No. 1 Northern Cal seed from Reedley, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 in the Round of 16, then knocked off Nakieta Hein-Jeanette Losario of Saddleback 6-4, 6-1 in the quarterfinals.
McDonald-Simoni were the champions of the prestigious Ojai Valley Tournament.
Yvanovich-Sauer will meet Krystal Hansard-Criss Rodriguez of Santa Monica on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the semifinals.
Santa Monica beat the Vaqueros for the WSC title and captured the State Team Championship on Thursday.
In singles, Yvanovich fell to Chabot’s Namrata Sher, the No. 2 seed from Northern Cal, 6-2, 6-4 in the first round.
“It’s so exciting to beat the Ojai champions and be in the State semifinals,” said coach Debbie Ekola. “We needed to find a replacement early Thursday morning and Betsy was ready to go. They’re playing some great tennis.”
