MARAUDERS SAIL PAST CORSAIRS 7-2

After weather that delayed the start of the second round of Western State Conference play, the Marauders returned to the court and defeated the Santa Monica Corsairs 7-2. AVC experienced early success, winning two of three doubles matches. No. 1 Sydney Bush and Naia Smithley lost 1-8, No. 2 Nicole Padilla and Julie Tejada won 8-0, and No. 3 Arianett Avina and Emily Lopez won 8-1.

The success continued in singles play. No. 1 Bush was defeated 1-6, 0-6, and although No. 2 Smithley found herself down 2-5 in the first set, she then won 5 games in a row to win the set 7-5 and wrapped up the match winning the second set 6-2. No. 3 Padilla won 6-1, 6-0, No. 4 Tejeda won 6-2, 6-2, and No. 5 Avina won 6-2, 6-1. Playing up in the lineup at No. 6, Katie Secaida was victorious 6-0, 6-0.

"We played well today. Naia demonstrated the ability to continue to look forward and not dwell on the first few games and played great tennis to turn it around," said head coach Justin Webb. "I'm also really excited for Nicole as she won her first singles match in conference play. We came into the year with a freshman dominant team, and we are not playing so much like freshman anymore, which is a positive sign," he added.

The overall record for the Marauders is now 5-5, and 3-4 in Western State Conference play. As the second half of conference play resumes, their 5 victories surpass last year's win total for the season. AVC will head on the road for a non-conference match against College of the Sequoias in Visalia this Saturday, March 4th, at 12:00 pm.