No. 3 Lasers take down Vaqueros in playoff opener, 5-2

Irvine Valley took two of three doubles sets on Tuesday and then captured three of the first four singles to knock off SBCC 5-2 in the first round of the Southern Cal Regional women's tennis tournament.

The third-seeded Lasers improve to 13-3 while the sixth-seeded Vaqueros end their first campaign under coach Christina Klein with a 14-5 record – their most wins in 17 years.

IVC will travel to top-seeded Cerritos (22-1) in next Tuesday's semifinals.

Josephine Pulver/Pia Valtierra got the doubles point with a 9-7 win at No. 2. Valtierra improved to 16-3 with a 6-0, 6-2 triumph over Anna Krechekova in the No. 4 singles.

"Overall it was a tough match and I think the girls played tough across the board," said coach Christina Klein. "Pia Valtierra got both our points and Josephine was close to winning her match at No. 3 before the match ended.

"As for the season, I think it was a great way to end the season. We had only seven girls this year which made them unbelievably close and needing to rely and depend on one another. Overall they held each other accountable and performed for each other, which is what makes a team and explains how we did so well overall. I can't be more pleased with this group of girls and how far we have come in my first year coaching."

All three Vaquero doubles teams have qualified for the State Championships at Ojai (April 26-29) and two more will earn spots in singles on Friday when they play-off against each other in the back draw of the WSC Championships at Ventura.

Singles
1. Halla Alajeely, IVC, def. Katelyn Peyvandi 6-1, 6-0
2. Fiorella Dreux, IVC, def. Gabrielle Goss 6-2, 6-1
3. Josephine Pulver, SBCC, led Ariana Hedavati, IVC, 6-1, 4-1, unfinished
4. Pia Valtierra, SBCC, def. Anna Krechetova 6-0, 6-2
5. Abigail Perez, IVC, def. Hanna Pesniak 6-1, 6-3
6. Lauren MacDonnell, IVC, vs. Maddie Mitchell, unfinished

Doubles
1. Alajeely/Dreux, IVC, def. Peyvandi/Goss 8-3
2. Pulver/Valtierra, SBCC, def. Hedavati/Perez 9-7
3. Krechetova/MacDonnell, IVC, def. Mitchell/Pesniak 8-2