Irvine Valley falls to Mt. SAC in regional playoff opener

Irvine Valley's women's tennis team played tough, but couldn't move on past the first round of the Southern California Regional Team Playoffs.

The Lasers were the No. 4 seed and earned a home match, but fell to defending state champion Mt. San Antonio, 5-3, on Tuesday at Irvine Valley.

IVC defeated Mt. SAC, 6-3, earlier this season.

Mt. SAC, seeded sixth moves on to the second round where it will play at top-seeded Cerritos or No. 8 seed Santa Barbara City next Tuesday.

Irvine Valley looked good early on Tuesday, taking a 2-1 lead in matches after doubles.

Irvine Valley got an 8-0 win from the No. 3 team of Karina Ryabokonova and Sierra Mazzarini to start.

IVC's top team of Sarah Mae Garcia and Samantha Schwarz earned a 8-6 victory to give the Lasers the lead going into singles.

But Mt. SAC picked up wins on the first through fourth singles courts to move on to the next round.

IVC's Ryabokonova won, 6-4, 6-3 at No. 5 singles.

Mazzarini had split sets on the sixth singles court, but that match was halted.

Irvine Valley, which finished second in the Orange Empire Conference, ended its team season with a record of 7-6 overall. Mt. SAC improved its record to 13-7 overall.

Mt. SAC 5, Irvine Valley 3

Singles

1) Connie Aranguiz (MTSAC) def. Sarah Mae Garcia (IVC), 6-4, 6-2

2) Judy Ung (MTSAC) def. Samantha Paz (IVC), 6-4, 6-1

3) Kristen Russo (MTSAC) def. Lou Baize (IVC), 6-0, 6-2

4) Amberly Huang (MTSAC) def. Samantha Schwarz (IVC), 6-1, ret.

5) Karina Ryabokonova (IVC) def. Jessica Ulloa (MTSAC), 6-4, 6-3

6) Sierra Mazzarini (IVC) vs. Jasmin Bowright (MTSAC), 4-6, 6-3 (unfinished)

Doubles

1) Garcia/Schwarz (IVC) def. Aranguiz/Ung (MTSAC), 8-6

2) Russo/Huang (MTSAC) def. Paz/Baize (IVC), 8-4

3) Ryabokonova/Mazzarini (IVC) def. Ulloa/ Amanda Perez