Irvine Valley women's tennis team makes history with top ranking

Irvine Valley's women's tennis team made some history.

For the first time in program history, the Lasers are ranked No. 1 in Southern California.

In the first Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association California Community College Athletic Association poll of the season, which was released on Thursday, IVC was at the top of the list.

The IVC women's team joins the Laser men's squad, which is also ranked first. IVC men's team is the two-time defending state champion.

Ross Duncan, who has been head coach of the men's team the last five seasons, is in his first year of running the women's program at Irvine Valley.

The Orange Empire Conference has four teams in the rankings with IVC first, Orange Coast fourth, Saddleback eighth and Riverside ninth.

IVC fell to No. 4 Orange Coast, 5-4, on Thursday on the road, but the Lasers were missing their top player.

Irvine Valley has a record of 8-2 overall and is 5-2 in the Orange Empire Conference and tied for first place with OCC.

Irvine Valley has wins over four of the teams in the top 10 so far this year. It has beat No. 2 Glendale, No. 4 Orange Coast and No. 8 Saddleback.

The Lasers have spring break next week, but will take on four-year Wisconsin Whitewater in a nonconference match on Thursday at home at 3 p.m.

IVC is back in conference action on Mar. 28 at Fullerton at 2 p.m.

The complete Southern California top 10 poll is below.

Oracle/ITA CCCAA Southern California Women's Ranking - March 16

1 Irvine Valley

2 Glendale

3 Santa Monica

4 Orange Coast

5 Bakersfield

6 Santa Barbara

7 Cerritos

8 Saddleback

9 Riverside

10 Ventura