As the top-ranked singles player in the South Coast Conference Tournament, sophomore Taylor Heath (Cerritos HS) was able to record three straight set wins to reach the finals on Sunday. In the finals of the singles championship, Heath earned a 6-2 win in the first set against Linda Guerzize of College of the Desert. But that would be followed by a 2-6 loss and then a 10-8 setback in the tiebreaker. Heath, who was trailing 8-4 in the tiebreaker, strung together four straight points to get even but couldn't earn another point and lost in the finals.

She and doubles partner Anastasia Khomyachenko (Sochi, Russia) won their first two matches with ease to advance to the semifinals. However, Khomyachenko was under the weather and the duo had to default their chance to try and compete to reach the finals.

By the end of the tournament, the Falcons were able to qualify two singles players (Heath and Khomyachenko) and all three of their doubles teams to the CCCAA State Championships in Ojai. Along with Heath and Khomyachenko, the tandems of Valentina Polonyi (Altisa, Hungary) and Tiffany Sanchez (Long Beach Wilson HS), along with Jovana Milosevic (High School of Business and Law, Serbia/Hillsborough (FL) CC) and Danielle Pastor (Bishop Montgomery HS) have advanced. They will first host Mt. San Antonio College on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. in the semifinals of the Southern California Team Championships.

Photos by Daryl Peterson