With only four members on this year's Cerritos College women's tennis team will open each of their matches already trailing 3-0 in the team score. The defending state champions found that to be insurmountable in their season opener against host Santa Barbara City College, as they suffered a 6-3 defeat. The Falcons will play their second consecutive match on the road next Thursday when they travel to Fullerton College for a 2:00 p.m. match.

The only returning member of last year's team, Moa Lindstrom (Dragonskolan Elitidrottgymnasium, Sweden), played in the #1 singles and doubles position and earned two of the Falcons team points. In singles play, she defeated Jamaice Buyse, 6-1, 6-2 and also teamed with freshman Alba Gonzalez (Colegio Madre Guadalupe, Venezuela) for an 8-1 doubles victory. Gonzalez, who played in the #2 singles position on the ladder, was extended to a third set, but was defeated by Joice Buyse, 2-6, 6-4, 1-6.

The other team point came in the #3 singles match, as freshman Yesenia Palacios (Long Beach Wilson HS) earned a 6-3, 6-1 victory. She teamed with freshman Selene Bayardo (Long Beach Millikan HS) in doubles play and came up short in an 8-4 score, while Bayaido was defeated in singles action, 1-6, 1-6.