Gauchos edge Hornets on the courts

The Saddleback women's tennis team won its first conference match of the season with a 5-4 victory over Fullerton College on Friday on the Saddleback Courts.  The Gauchos had three, two-time winners on the day.

The top of Saddleback's lineup was stout, with all of the top three players in the lineup winning multiple matches.  The Gauchos started out by winning 2-of-3 in doubles matches, including a comfortable win at No. 1 doubles as Jacklyn Melkonian and Kristina Parks (pictured) cruised to an 8-1 win.  Bailey Donine and Sydney Page were also winners, digging deep for a 9-7 win.

Melkonian would then head to singles play and breeze past Kelsi Salazar 6-0, 6-0 to give Saddleback a 3-1 lead.  She was equaled by Donine, who also cruised past Bree Lovering for a 6-0, 6-0 win to leave Saddleback needing only one more win.  They had to wait awhile as Fullerton came storming back to even the match at 4-4.  Parks then battled from deficits in both sets for a 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 2 singles to give the Gauchos the match.
Saddleback (4-5, 1-2) will play next when they host Orange Coast College next Tuesday.  The Gauchos and Pirates are set to start at 2:00 PM on the Saddleback Courts.

Doubles:

1. Jacklyn Melkonian & Kristina Parks (SC) def. Ashe & Lovering (FC) 8-1
2. Salazar & La (FC) def. Abril Marziali & Kimiya Ataiyan (SC) 8-1
3. Bailey Donine & Sydney Page (SC) def. Cardinal & Okubo (FC) 9-7

Singles:

1. Melkonian (SC) def. Salazar (FC) 6-0, 6-0
2. Parks (SC) def. Ashe (FC) 7-5, 6-4
3. Donine (SC) def. Lovering (FC) 6-0, 6-0
4. Okubo (FC) def. Page (SC) 6-4, 6-2
5. La (FC) def. Marzioli (SC) 6-3, 6-2
6. Cardinal (FC) def. Ataiyan (SC) 6-0, 6-0