BAKERSFIELD, CA - The Bakersfield College women's tennis team punched their ticket to the State Championship game after defeating Orange Coast College, 5-1, in front of a packed house at the BC tennis courts on Saturday, April 19th.
The victory advanced the Southern California Regional champion Renegades into this Wednesday's 3C2A State title match against Sacramento American River in Ventura. Saturday's match also drew a large crowd for the Renegades. About 200 or so fans were spread out around the BC tennis courts to cheer on the BC team and the action.
BC started with a sweep of their doubles, No. 1 team of Breanna Hiebert and Hannah Kratt, who won 8-3 over Orange Coast's Kei Chung and Tori Varela. Taylor Crider and Kailani Lua won 9-7 over Mebuki Kitakuni and Kaylee Ho at No. 2 doubles, and the No. 3 doubles team of Naomi Pavletich and Kayleah Sanchez won 8-4. With a 3-0 start, Bakersfield would only need two more wins to claim victory.
Hiebert defeated Chung, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 singles, getting the team's fourth point. Pavletich's 6-2, 6-4 win over Ho was the fifth and last point, but Orange Coast's Kitakuni defeated BC's Kratt, 2-6, 1-6 at No. 2 singles right before Naomi got the win for the team.
The Renegades did not finish the other matches due to BC having the points necessary to win. However, all but one match was going in our favor.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 23rd, BC will take the Venutra College tennis court, courts they are familiar with due to Venutra being in their conference, so they have to play there at least once a year. They will take on the reigning champions from 2024 and 2023, American River. The Beavers are also currently undefeated and were the Northern Regional Champions. Bakersfield was supposed to play them earlier in the season, but due to rain and travel, the team decided to cancel the game.
The Renegades hope to come out on top and give Bakersfield its 16th State Title Championship tomorrow.
