Women’s Tennis: Roadrunners nearly knock off defending state champs

Rio Hondo College traveled to face defending state champion Cerritos College on Thursday and nearly come home with the upset win. But with the score tied after six singles matches, Cerritos won two of three doubles contests to escape with a 5-4 South Coast Conference win over the Roadrunners.

Heaven Diaz was a 6-3, 6-3 winner over Cerritos' Selene Bayardo at No. 4 singles, Samantha Martinez picked up a 6-1, 6-0 win over the Falcons' Evelyn Rodriguez at No. 5, and Samantha Garcia was credited the win at No. 6 by forfeit.

Martinez and Garcia also won at No. 3 doubles to account for Rio Hondo's points. Complete match results are below.

Thursday's loss dropped Rio Hondo to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in conference play. The Roadrunners return to action on Tuesday (Mar. 5) when they travel to College of the Desert for a 2 p.m. non-conference match.

SINGLES
Moa Lindström (CERR) def. Jane Quach (RHC), 6-0, 6-0
Alba Gonzalez (CERR) def. Jesielle Valles (RHC), 6-1, 6-0
Yesenia Palacios (CERR) def. Gabriella Tellez (RHC), 6-0, 6-0
Heaven Diaz (RHC) def. Selene Bayardo (CERR), 6-7 (7-3), 6-3, 6-3
Samantha Martinez (RHC) def. Evelyn Rodriguez Toro (CERR), 6-1, 6-0
Samantha Garcia (RHC) win by forfeit

DOUBLES
Moa Lindström/Alba Gonzalez (CERR) def. Jane Quach/Jesielle Valles (RHC), 8-0
Yesenia Palacios/Selene Bayerdo (CERR) def. Gabriella Tellez/Heaven Diaz (RHC), 8-2
Samantha Martinez/Samantha Garcia (RHC) win by forfeit