Cerritos downs Vaqueros 5-2 in Regional opener

Cerritos got two points in doubles on Tuesday, then posted three straight-set wins in singles to knock off SBCC 5-2 in the opening round of the Southern California Team Regional women's tennis playoffs.

The fourth-seeded Falcons improved to 19-6 and the No. 5 Vaqueros end their year at 10-4. Cerritos will travel to No. 2 Glendale for a semifinal match on April 14.

Anastasia Khomyachenko (Russia), Taylor Heath and Mariia Yatsenko (Ukraine) all won in singles and doubles for Cerritos. Merli Alcasid clinched the victory with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Gabriela McDaniel at No. 6 singles. Once a team gets to five points in the playoffs, all other matches are abandoned.

The Vaquero points came from Amanda Berke and Edda von Hodenberg with an 8-6 win in doubles and a 7-5, 6-1 triumph by Berke at No. 5 singles.

"We didn't have our best performance today but I think Cerritos had a lot to do with that," said coach Lance Kronberg. "They were strong at every spot. We're a young team and I hope we learned something today that will help us next season."

Six SBCC players qualified for the State Individual Tournament (three singles, three doubles) and will open play at The Ojai on Thursday, April 23.

Doubles
1. Taylor Heath/Mariia Yatsenko, Cerr, def. Maddie Seeds/Marcela Massaglia 8-3
2. Stef Flores/Anastasia Khomyachenko, Cerr,  def. Tess Kolkman/Zionne Lee 8-5
3. Amanda Berke/Edda von Hodenberg, SBCC, def. Merli Alcasid/Katia Brambila 8-6

Singles
1. Anastasia Khomyachenko, Cerr, led Maddie Seeds, SBCC, 6-1, 3-6, did not finish
2. Taylor Heath, Cerr, def. Marcela Massaglia 6-3, 6-0
3. Mariia Yatsenko, Cerr,  def. Tess Kolkman 6-3, 6-2
4. Zionne Lee, SBCC, led Stef Flores, Cerr, 7-6 (6), DNF
5. Amanda Berke, SBCC, def. Katia Brambila 7-5, 6-1
6. Merli Alcasid, Cerr, def. Gabriela McDaniel 6-2, 6-0