The Bear Cubs women’s tennis team hosted Fresno City College in the second round of the NorCal Team Playoffs Tuesday at SRJC.

Opening with singles matches at 2 p.m. SRJC’s number one ranked singles player Monica Borowicz (SRJC) defeated Maddie Loomis (FCC) in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1.  Nika Juricic (SRJC) also won in straight sets defeating Regina Leyba (FCC) 6-3, 6-3. After that it was all Fresno. Meghan Woods (FCC) defeated Maddy Heggli (SRJC) 6-4, 6-2. In a stunning upset, Kate Abston (FCC) defeated Bear Cub standout Gienna Gonnella, after Gonnella won the first set in a tie breaker, 6-7 (2),  but then lost to Abston 7-5 and 6-3. Kelsea Thomas (SRJC) won her first set with ease 6-0, but Allie O’neil (FCC) came back and defeated Thomas 7-5 and 6-3 after Thomas appeared to struggle with exhaustion, although never quitting and fighting valiantly to the end.  In the final singles match Michelle Cardenas (SRJC) was defeated by Betsy Lauritzen (FCC) 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-5. With Fresno up 4-2, the playoff battle would come down to doubles matches, with SRJC having to against all odds come back and sweep all three doubles matches and try and win 5-4. With all three matches being played concurrently, SRJC’s prospects were looking good as their teams starting winning sets and exhaustion didn’t appear to be a factor. The team of Gonnella and Juricic exacted revenge on the Abston (Abston earlier beat Gonnella) and Leyba team in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4. Following that match was an entertaining battle that featured Cardenas and Heggli avenging earlier singles losses and dominating Lauritzen and Woods. At times the heads up and crafty moves by Cardenas and Heggi frustrated Woods causing her to loose to composure. With the Bear Cubs winning the first two matches and tying the score at 4-4, all SRJC needed to do to complete their improbable comeback was the duo of Borowicz and Thomas to beat the Fresno duo of  Loomis and O’neill. After a see-saw battle that went into a tie-breaker, Loomis and O’neill prevailed 6-0, 1-6, 7-6(2) and Fresno City College ended the women’s team playoffs after over four hours of tennis. Fresno advances to the NorCal Regional Finals, May 2 at West Valley College and the SRJC Women’s team ends the Season with an overall record of 13-3.