
The VC women's tennis team improved its chances of a post-season berth Saturday with a 7-2 win over visiting Fullerton. The Pirates' Nos. 1 and 3 players Nicole Iannacone and Kira Branson led the way with a win together in doubles and the first two wins in singles to put VC firmly in control of the match. Lola Tennison clinched in No. 2 singles after winning in No. 2 doubles with Chandra Padua.
Tennison and Padua earned the first point of the day with an 82 win in No. 2 doubles before Iannacone and Branson prevailed in No. 1 doubles, 8-4, soon thereafter. Dulce Contreras and Fernanda Gonzales battled on Court 3 but ultimately fell 9-7 as Ventura led 2-1 heading to singles.
Branson struck firstin singles play, winning on Court 2, one and one. Iannacone dominated the No. 1 singles match with a 6-3, 6-0 decision before Tennison clinched the Pirate victory at no. 2 with a 6-1, 6-3 win. Padua won on Court 4, 6-2, 6-1 and Contreras added another point in No. 5 singles with a 6-3, 6-4 triumph.
Ventura begins a crucial final seven days of the regular season on Tuesday Mar. 25 with a Western State Conference match at Santa Monica. VC returns home for their final regular season home contest on Thursday Mar. 27 at 2:00 pm.
Ventura 7, Fullerton 2
Doubles
1. Nicole Iannacone/Kira Branson (VC) def. Josie Miranda/Justine Koo (FC), 8-4
2. Lola Tennison/Chandra Padua (VC) def. Arleth Vega-Estevez/Alyssa Lopez (FC), 8-2
3. Dulce Contreras/Fernanda Gonzales (VC) lost to Devyn Zuniga/Giana Morales (FC), 9-7
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
Singles
1. Iannacone (VC) def. Miranda (FC), 6-3, 6-0
2. Tennison (VC) def. Koo (FC), 6-1, 6-3
3. Branson (VC) def. Vega-Estevez (FC), 6-1, 6-1
4. Padua (VC) def. Lopez (FC), 6-2, 6-1
5. Contreras (VC) def. Zuniga (FC), 6-3, 6-4
6. Gonzales (VC) lost to Azurae Jeffery (FC), 6-3. 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2, 4, 6, 5