Orange Coast College

Semifinal exit for OCC tennis singles, doubles

Monday, May 15, 2006

CLAREMONT - While the Orange Coast College women's tennis team came home with the state title, the individual singles and doubles teams were stopped short of their respected individual finals -- a slight detour in an otherwise brilliant 2006 tennis campaign.
In singles play, Jaleh Mazaheri advanced to the state semifinals, where she was topped by Santa Rosa's Susan Souksavath, 6-2, 7-6 (3), while teammate Emily Paulson fell to Grossmont's Yui Shimizu, 6-1, 6-0, in the other semifinal match.
Shimizu made it to the semifinals by outlasting Pirate standout Jessica Rice, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 in quarterfinal action, denying the chance for three OCC semifinalists.
In doubles action, Mazaheri and Julie Haley as well as Rice and Paulson each advanced to the state semifinals before they were ousted from the competition.
Mazaheri and Haley fell to Grossmont's Shimizu and Alyse Tyson, 6-1, 6-2, while Rice and Paulson lost in straight sets to Susan and Laurie Souksavath of Santa Rosa, 6-4, 7-6 (7).
Despite a void in finals competition, the Pirates wrapped up an incredible season in which they sucessfully defended their team state title and posted a 22-0 record in dual-match play. Their depth was well represented in the individual competitions.
"I am so proud of the way this group perfromed this year," OCC head coach Janice Maran said. "All year long, different people stepped up and played great at different times. It was truly a team effort. I really appreciate the winning spirit they brought each and every time they stepped on the court."
While their OCC career has ended, the trio of Rice, Paulson and Haley will continue to compete together as they move on to Concordia University, where they will join former OCC standout Michelle Esquivel.
Rice and Haley each went 29-0 in dual-match play over the past two seasons, while Paulson went 27-2.
"Those three have developed lifetime friendships thanks to Orange Coast College and it will be very exciting to see them join Michelle over at Concordia," Maran said. "These three sophomores were so valuable in contributing to our success this season. Each one was mentally tough and always prepared for a long, grueling match. They certainly proved themselves throughout the season to be the best and help lead the remaining freshmen to their own successes.
"They all contributed to accomplishing the final goal of 'Team Champions.'"