Redemption for Nicole West Takes Home Singles Title

After coming up short in the 2022 3C2A Singles State Championship match, Nicole West (Santa Monica College) defeated Hana Moss (College of the Desert), 6-2, 1-6, 6-1. One of the main differences this year for West, was she solely concentrated on singles, since she did not participate in doubles. Last year she played four singles matches and four doubles matches in a two-day span. This year she played six singles matches over a four-day period.

West looked like she was going to coast through the finals after winning six straight games to win the first set 6-2. West explained the start of the match, "it was a tough match, the first couple of games I was nervous and tight. I went down 2-0, but got some confidence and swung back and closed out the set 6-2." However, as Moss has shown all tournament, she is tough to beat and came back to force a deciding third set. West said about her opponent, "Hana picked her game up and played really well in the second set."

After each individual won decisively in the first two sets, the crowd anticipated a close third set. However, West was able to regain her composer and closed out the championship match with a 6-1 third set. She said, "third set I rallied and got a good couple games and regained confidence to close it out." After being a runner up in both singles and doubles last year, West commented, "it feels so much better to be the State Champion. It feels good to finish what I started last year."

West will be moving on to continue her playing career at a four-year institution and is contemplating her offers and opportunities. Moss is in her first year at COD and will be using the motivation that West had to seek redemption next season.