Women's Tennis Downs L.A. Mission 5-4 in Home Opener

College of the Canyons 2022 women's tennis team photo.
Photos
February 2, 2022

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director 

College of the Canyons pulled out a 5-4 conference victory over visiting L.A. Mission College on Tuesday, sweeping the three doubles matches and taking two points in singles action to win its 2022 home opener. 

COC freshman Lexi Paunovic won her match 6-0, 6-2 from the No. 2 spot to claim her first singes victory of the season.

Sophomore Jennifer Russell was a 6-3, 6-2 winner from the No. 3 spot. Russell who was 10-1 as a freshman in 2020 is currently 1-1 in the early season.

The No. 1 doubles duo of Ashley Villarta and Paunovic played to an 8-1 victory.

Russell and Lauren Hannah also found the win column from the No. 2 spot with an 8-5 result. 

No. 3 team Lauren Neal and Hannah Heiber also teamed up for an 8-3 advantage to take a crucial point. 

Canyons is 4-2 in doubles play thus for this season. The Cougars are also 4-8 in singles competition. 

The Cougars won't have to wait long to get back on the court as Canyons is set to host a non-conference match vs. College of the Sequoias at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 2.

Western State Conference (WSC) play then continues at 2 p.m. Thursday vs. Santa Monica.

Full results from Tuesday's match vs. L.A. Mission are included below:

Doubles

1. Villarta/Paunovic (COC) defeats Kynclova/Zambrano (LAM) — 8-1

2. Russell/Hannah (COC) defeats Galvan/Cornejo (LAM) — 8-5

3. Neil/Heiber (COC) defeats Prado/Garcia (LAM) — 8-3

Singles

1. Ashley Villarta (COC) loses to Anna Kynclova (LAM) — 1-6, 1-6

2. Lexi Paunovic (COC) defeats Victoria Garcia (LAM) — 6-0, 6-2

3. Jennifer Russell (COC) defeats Julisa Galvan (LAM) — 6-3, 6-2

4. Lauren Hannah (COC) loses to Verenice Prado (LAM) — 3-6, 5-7

5. Lauren Neal (COC) loses to Isabella Cornejo (LAM) —6-3, 4-6, 0-1

6. Leslie Galaviz (COC) loses to Angela Zambrano (LAM) — 6-2, 3-6, 0-1

Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.