The Long Beach City College women's tennis team was denied its first win of the season after suffering a narrow 5-4 South Coast Conference loss to visiting Cerritos College on Thursday.

The loss dropped the Vikings to 0-8 overall and 0-5 in the SCC while Cerritos moved to 3-6 overall and 2-3 in conference play.

Cerritos won four of six singles match to take a 4-2 lead into doubles action. Long Beach got wins from freshman Ellisse Herrera at No. 2 singles (6-2, 0-6, 13-11 over Hui You Sohn) and sophomore Patricia Escalante at No. 3 (6-1, 6-2 over Dominique Luna).

But Sohn and Luna clinched the match victory at No. 2 doubles, defeating LBCC freshman Chloe Angulo and Escalante 6-1, 6-2. The Vikings made the match close with wins at No. 1 doubles by freshman Sarah Parent (pictured) and Herrera and at No. 3 doubles by freshmen Christine Rojas and Jalesia Duran.

Long Beach returns to action on Tuesday (Mar 13) when it hosts Mt. San Antonio College in a 2 pm SCC match.

Cerritos College 5, Long Beach City College 4
Records: Cerritos 3-6, 2-3 SCC; Long Beach 0-8, 0-5 SCC
SINGLES
#1) Mandi Jenkins (CER) def. Sarah Parent (LBCC); 6-2, 6-2
#2) Ellisse Herrera (LBCC) def. Hui You Sohn (CER); 6-2, 0-6, 13-11
#3) Patricia Escalante (LBCC) def. Dominique Luna (CER); 6-1, 6-2
#4) Kim Diaz (CER) def. Chloe Angulo (LBCC); 7-6, 6-4
#5) Nancy Audetat (CER) def. Ana Casillas (LBCC); 6-3, 6-0
#6) Amy Peterson (CER) def. Jalesia Duran (LBCC); 6-4, 6-3
DOUBLES
#1) Parent/Herrera (LBCC) def. Jenkins/Diaz; 6-2, 2-6, 12-10
#2) Sohn/Luna (CER) def. Escalante/Angulo (LBCC); 6-1, 6-2
#3) Rojas/Duran (LBCC) def. Audetat/Peterson (CER); 7-5, 7-5

Photo by Chris Ruiz