Six Bobcats headed to Ojai

The Saddleback women's tennis team qualified six players for the California Community College Athletic Association State Tournament in Ojai later this month.  Two singles players and all three doubles teams qualified.

Saddleback had a solid week out at Riverside City College where the members of the team played for qualifying status into the state tournament later in April.  Both Sydney Grove and Ainsley Beresford qualified in both singles play and doubles play while Ellie Maruna, Brooke Buser, Emily West and Kavelle Tomaiko qualified in doubles play.

Grove had a bye to open singles play on Thursday before defeating Riverside City College's Adrielle Fotchi (2-6, 6-2, 10-2) to reach the tournament quarterfinals.  Beresford had a bye in the opening round before beating Orange Coast College's Camila Nelson (6-4, 7-5) to reach the quarterfinals.  As a result of reaching the quarterfinals, it qualified both players for the state tournament. 

Grove and Beresford weren't finished, also getting a bye into the quarterfinals of doubles play to qualify as a doubles team.  Joining them in qualifying were two other doubles teams.  The team of Maruna and Buser had a bye to reach the quarterfinals as a result of being one of the top four seeded duos.  West and Tomaiko won their way into the state tournament with a victory over Riverside City College's Adrielle Fochi and Monica Carrillo, 8-4. 

In addition to individual state tournament berths, Saddleback won a number of individual honors on the final day of the regular season.  Ainsley Beresford, Sydney Grove, Ellie Maruna and Brooke Buser were named to the All-Orange Empire Conference Team and head coach Melody Gillinger (pictured below) was named the conference coach-of-the-year. 

Saddleback is expected to be named a participant in the upcoming CCCAA Regional Playoffs when the playoff seeds are announced on Sunday.  The regional playoffs are scheduled to start on Tuesday.

The CCCAA State Tournament is scheduled to take place on April 26-30.  The team championship will be played on April 26 at Ventura College with all individual and doubles play being held in Ojai on April 27-30.