Riverside edges College of the Desert in opening-round playoff match

The Riverside City women's tennis team broke a 4-4 tie with a key win at No. 2 singles to come away with a 5-4 victory over College of the Desert on Tuesday in the opening round of the California Community College Athletic Association dual team Southern California Regionals at Riverside.

Riverside, the third seed, improved its record to 17-2 overall with the win over No. 6 College of the Desert. Annely Heinze defeated Laura Arruda, 6-2, 7-6 (5) in the deciding match of the day.

Also earning wins in singles for RCC were Sheila James at the No. 3 spot, Marki Cardenas at No. 5 singles and Lacy Patton at the No. 6 position.

The Tigers, who won the Orange Empire Conference title with a 10-0 record, return to action next Tuesday when they visit top-seeded Mt. SAC in a Southern California regional semifinal at 2 p.m.

Riverside def. College of the Desert, 5-4

Singles

1) Leticia Dos Santos (COD) def. Acacia Dettman (RCC) 6-1, 6-1

2) Annely Heinze (RCC) def. Laura Arruda (COD) 6-2, 7-6 (5)

3) Sheila James (RCC) def. Barbara Haikal (COD) 6-3, 6-1

4) Karina Braz (COD) def. Kelli Reynolds (RCC) 6-4, 6-4

5) Marki Cardenas (RCC) def. Katie Gundlach (COD) 6-3, 6-4

6) Lacy Patton (RCC) def. Karen Rodas (COD) 6-2, 6-0

Doubles

1) Dos Santos/Arruda (COD) def. Dettman/James (RCC) 8-6

2)  Heinze/Cardenas (RCC) def. Haikel/Elhendy (COD) 8-1

3) Braz/Rodas (COD) def. Patton/Cardenas (RCC) 9-8 (6)