Canyons Crowned as 2022 WSC Women's Tennis Champions After Undefeated Showing
GLENDALE, Calif. - College of the Canyons secured the 2022 Western State Conference Women's Tennis Champion crown after closing the regular season with a perfect 12-0 record against league foes.
The Cougars boast an overall record of 13-2 while earning the league title for the first time in program history, returning to action in top form after a nearly two-year layoff due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tuesday's win was the 12th straight for COC dating back to Feb. 3, another program record.
The Cougars swept all six singles matches vs. the Vaqueros (6-10, 4-8) and also took two of three in doubles action. Glendale's lone point came from the No. 1 doubles position. | ORIGINAL RELEASE
No. 3 doubles duo Hannah Heiber and Lauren Neal teamed for COC's first point of the day with an 8-3 win. The victory brought their season record to 12-2, the best mark among the Cougars' three primary doubles teams.
Lauren Hannah and Jennifer Russell improved to 10-4 on the season with its 8-3 doubles victory from the No. 2 spot.
The team of Lexi Paunovic and Ashley Villarta fell by a 4-8 score, finishing the regular season at 9-5 in doubles competition.
Villarta was a winner (6-2, 7-6, 5) from the No. 1 singles spot and concludes the regular season at 6-10.
Paunovic improved to 11-2 in singles action with her victory (6-4, 6-1) from the No. 2 position.
Russell also moved to 11-2 on the year, primarily playing from the No. 3 spot, after her win (6-0, 6-4) on Tuesday. Russell, the current COC Student-Athlete of the week, is now 21-3 in her two-year Cougar career, which includes a shortened 2020 campaign.
Neal finishes the regular season at 9-6 in singles play after taking her match (6-1, 7-5) from the No. 4 position.
Heiber was convincing in her victory (6-2, 6-1) from the No. 5 spot, improving to 9-3 in singles competition.
Hannah moved her current win streak to nine matches with a straight sets (6-0, 6-0) win in the No. 6 match-up. She finishes the regular season at 10-4.
Canyons will now move into the CCCAA SoCal Regional Playoffs beginning in early April. The Cougars will also have a number of singles and doubles duos move on to the individual postseason matches.
Full results from Tuesday's match at Glendale are below.
Doubles
- Paunovic/Villarta (COC) loses to Mardrosians/Gueco (GCC) — 4-8
- Hannah/Russell (COC) defeats Joshi/Charles (GCC) — 8-3
- Heiber/Neal (COC) defeats Mkrtchiam/Poghosyan (GCC) — 8-1
Singles
- Ashley Villarta (COC) defeats Minnie Mardrosians(GCC) — 6-2, 7-6, 5
- Lexi Paunovic (COC) defeats Siya Joshi (GCC) — 6-4, 6-1
- Jennifer Russell (COC) defeats Kianna Gueco(GCC) — 6-0, 6-4
- Lauren Neal (COC) defeats Ailyne Charles (GCC) — 6-1, 7-5
- Hannah Heiber (COC) defeats Naneh Mkrtchiam (GCC) — 6-2, 6-1
- Lauren Hannah (COC) defeats Susanna Poghosyan (GCC) — 6-0, 6-0
