Pirates return favor on Tigers with 5-4 win
COSTA MESA -- The payback was sweet for the Orange Coast College women's tennis team as the Pirates returned the favor on rival Riverside City College and topped the Tigers, 5-4, on Thursday in a crucial Orange Empire Conference matchup at the OCC Tennis Complex.
Just a few weeks after falling to the Tigers, 5-4, at RCC (9-2, 4-1 in the OEC), this time, it was the Pirates (12-1, 3-1) who won the final match of the afternoon to pull out the win.
Coast fell behind after doubles play, 2-1, and needed a clutch 9-7 win from the No. 3 doubles team of Kayla Cheng and Breckyn Burg to avoid dropping all three doubles matches.
The singles matches went into the early evening before winners were decided. Ava Bocek swept her way to a 6-2, 6-3 win, as did Sydney Friesan (6-4, 6-3), but OCC's final two wins were earned in the third set.
At No. 2, Mebuki Kitakuni overcame an opening-set loss to rally for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 win, while at No. 4, Kaylee Ho pulled out a 6-1, 6-7 (4), 6-4 win for OCC's fifth and final point for the victory.
The win puts OCC in a tie for first with RCC with one loss each. Coast will host San Diego City on Friday (2 p.m.) in a nonconference matchup before hosting Fullerton on Tuesday (2 p.m.) in a rainout make-up conference matchup.
