The Bakersfield College Western State Conference Co-Champion Women's Tennis Team has day one of the WSC Individual Championships under their belt, and some more pieces of hardware to add to their growing stash.
An award ceremony kicked off the day, and Riley Tucker took 1st team all-conference at the #2 Singles position, a reflection of her undefeated conference play in 2017.
Serena Contreras earned 2nd Team All-Conference honors at the #6 singles spot.
In the doubles category, Tucker and Brittany Aguilar earned 1st Team All-Conference Honors. Coach Nick Loudermilk paired them up almost midway through the season, and they went undefeated in conference match play. Contreras and Arianna Acevedo were awarded 1st Team Honors at the #3 doubles spot; not only did they remain undefeated in conference play, but the didn't record a loss at all in 2017.
"The girls didn't start the season playing together, but they paired up after a few weeks of the season and have not looked back," Coach Loudermilk said.
All eight Renegades played today, led by #1 Paige Darstein who was awarded a bye in the round of 64 and then took out AVC's Karlie Heckenliable in the round of 32. Up next for Darstein is Lea Meschke from VC. If Darstein wins she can punch her ticket to Ojai.
#2 Riley Tucker had a bye in the round of 64 before playing a tough Paige Jensen from SBCC in the round of 32. She got by Jensen 6-4, 6-2 and will face off against Irene Fehrer from SMC in the round of 16 Saturday. If she wins she can punch her ticket to Ojai as well.
#4 Kaylee Defrees received a bye in the round of 64 then decided to play extra in the round of 32 and pulled off a great 3 set victory over SBCC's Julianna Adelman. Defrees won the first set 6-4, lost the second 3-6 then pulled out the 10-point tiebreaker 10-6. She will go up against Glendale's Tsukimi Ono for a chance to qualify for state in the round of 16.
#3 Brittany Aguilar fell in the round of 32 to SBCC's Tyler Bunderson in straight sets. #5 Arianna Acevedo was dispatched by Glendale's Haley Mcnall in straight sets. #6 Serena Contreras lost to Glendale Kanako Kihara in straight sets in the round of 32.
#7 Chloe Moreno won her first round match 8-1 against AVC's Mary Theurer before falling in the round of 32 to #3 seed Bailey Sindle from VC. Moreno put up a fight though and lost the match 6-2,6-4. She gave Sindle everything she could handle on this day. But it was not enough.
#8 Kenzi Williamson started off her day with an 8-1 win over SMC's Adriana Duarte-Castro. She then lost to SBCC's Laura Berther in straight sets.
So 3 of the ladies kept their singles state chances alive and they will be ready to play Saturday.
In doubles play, Paige Darstein and Brittany Aguilar had a bye in round 32 but in the next round of 16 had to default to SBCC's Adelman and Bunderson due to injury. Darstein has been playing with a hurt wrist for the past few days and she was unable to finish the match. They will have a chance to play in the back draw Saturday and qualify through the consolation bracket.
Riley Tucker and Kaylee Defrees also received a bye in round 32 and kept things rolling with an 8-0 win over Glendale's Emmanouilidi and Mendez. With this win, the girls have officially qualified for the Ojai in doubles. But they are looking to do much more as they play in the quarterfinal Saturday against a team to be determined.
Arianna Acevedo and Serena Contreras had a bye in the round of 32, but lost their next round to SMC's Lepchevska and Fehrer 8-2. This loss puts them in the backdraw and they will have a chance to qualify Saturday through the consolation bracket.
Chloe Moreno and Kenzi Williamson lost a close match to SMC's Subero and Duarte-Castro 8-6. This ended their hopes of qualifying for the state tournament in doubles.