Gauchos tame Tigers to remain in playoff hunt

The Saddleback women's tennis team picked up a big win on Tuesday with a 5-4 victory at Riverside City College.  The Gauchos are now tied for second place with sister school Irvine Valley with one match remaining.

Saddleback trailed 2-1 heading into singles play after dropping 2-of-3 matches at doubles.  The Gauchos won at No. 1 doubles when Ashley Glick and Dominique Willette combined for an 8-4 win over Kelli Reynolds and Lacy Patton.

Glick (pictured) and Willette then both won at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, setting up for a big finish.  Glick cruised past Reynolds 6-2, 6-0 to get the Gauchos even before Willette defeated Gaby Ante, 6-3, 6-4, giving Saddleback a 3-2 lead.

The team match came down to No. 6 singled where Saddleback's Ariana Khalaj-Hedayati faced Riverside's Shannon Harris.  Khalaj-Hedayati won the opening set 6-4 before dropping the second, 6-7.  She bounced back for a 6-4 win in the third, giving the Gauchos a big win in Orange Empire Conference play.

Saddleback now faces off against Irvine Valley on Thursday, needing a win to secure second place in conference play.  The Gauchos fell to IVC 5-4 on March 3.  Match time is scheduled for 2:00 PM at the Saddleback Courts.    

Singles;

1.   Ashley Glick (SC) def. Kelli Reynolds (RCC) 6-2, 6-0
2.    Dominique Willette (SC) def. Gaby Ante (RCC) 6-3, 6-4
3.    Joanna Colin (SC) def. Sam Moreto (RCC) 6-2, 6-2
4.   Lacy Patton (RCC) def.  Kimiya Ataiyan (SC) 6-1, 6-0
5.    Tiffany Cheek (RCC) def. Maddison Serklew (SC) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
6.    Ariana Khalaj-Hedayati (SC) def. Shannon Harris (RCC) 6-4, 6-7, 6-4

Doubles;

1.    Glick & Willette  (SC) def. Reynolds & Patton (RCC) 8-4
2.    Ante & Moreto (RCC) def. Colin & Serklew (SC) 8-5
3.    Bauman & Harris (RCC) def.  Khalaj-Hedayati Maria Battel (SC) 8-0