Vaqueros surprise defending state champs 6-3 in opener

Joica Buyse rallied past Alba Gonzalez on Friday to give SBCC the decisive fifth point in a 6-3 women's tennis victory over defending state champion Cerritos. Buyse, a freshman from Izegem, Belgium, posted the 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 triumph in No. 2 singles at the Pershing Park courts.

Santa Barbara took a 2-1 lead after doubles, then captured the No. 2 and 4 singles. Jule Lauinger, playing up a spot in the lineup, won her No. 4 singles 6-1, 6-1.

The Vaqueros got three points on defaults as the Falcons only had four players.

"This is definitely not the same team they had last year but it's still a good win," said SBCC coach Christina Klein. "Our No. 2 doubles had a significant lead throughout the set. Our depth really made the difference today."

SBCC will hit the road for two matches next week – Tuesday at Irvine Valley and Friday at Riverside.

Singles
1. Moa Lindstrom, C, def. Jamaica Buyse 6-1, 6-2
2. Joica Buyse. SBCC, def. Alba Gonzalez 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
3. Ysenia Palacios, C, def. Anya Nicolaides 6-3, 6-1
4. Jule Lauinger, SBCC, def. Selene Bayardo 6-1, 6-1
5. Maddie Mitchell, SBCC, won by default
6. Julia Jakobsen, SBCC, won by default

Doubles
1. Lindstrom/Gonzalez, C, def. Buyse/Buyse 8-1
2. Nicolaides/Victoria Dafos, SBCC, def. Palacios/Bayardo 8-4
3. Lauinger/Mitchell, SBCC, won by default