Photos by Bobby R. Hester
Photos by Bobby R. Hester

Women’s Tennis Qualifies Five Singles, Three Doubles in OEC Individual Championships

The Riverside City College women's tennis team had a strong showing at the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) Singles and Doubles Championships throughout the weekend. Riverside qualified four singles players and three doubles pairs to the state championships hosted in Ojai, CA at the end of the month.

Freshman Torrey Mateljan, who was ranked sixth overall, traveled the furthest in the bracket by reaching the elite eight before falling in two sets on the final match on Friday. Each of her victories was completed in two sets highlighted by a 6-0, 6-0 victory in the first round and a 6-0, 6-1 victory in the second round.

Sophomore Heather Graf earned the 10th overall seed and won her first round match, but fell in her second round. Freshman Maxelle Bernie earned the 12th seed and mirrors Graf's outcome, while 13th-seeded Hannah Stevenson followed suit with a first round victory. She eventually fell in the second round.

Freshman Yasmin Johnson entered into the tournament unranked and completed a two-set upset over Cypress' eight-ranked opponent by the final score of 6-3, 6-4.

Mateljan, Graf, Bernie, Stevenson and Johnson all qualified for the Ojai Tournament.

The Tigers qualified a pair of doubles teams as Mateljan and Bernie earned the third-overall seed and reached the second round. Graf and Johnson mirrored their outcome at the sixth seed, while sophomore Emilia Lopez and Stevenson qualified after reaching the second round without earning a top seed.