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The Pima Community College women’s tennis team finished the fourth day of the NJCAA National Tournament in 16th place with 11.5 points on May 9. The final day of the tournament is on Thursday but the Aztecs have been eliminated from individual competition.

In No. 1 doubles competition, Tatum Rochin and partner Kari Emery defeated Evgina Johnson and Heather Williams from Grand Rapids Community College (Michigan) in the quarterfinals of the consolation bracket 6-0, 6-1. In the semifinals, Rochin and Emery lost a tough match to Ivanna Echezuria and Jessica Halterman from Meridian Community College (Mississippi) 6-2, 7-6 (2).

Emery made it to the semifinals of the No. 3 singles consolation bracket but lost to Ariana Raga from Cowley College (Kansas) 6-2, 6-1.

For complete tournament results go to: usta.com TennisLink USTA Adult Tournaments Tournament I.D.: 800006112

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The third day of the NJCAA National Tournament for women’s tennis came to a close on May 8 with Pima finishing in 17th place with 11 points and two players left in the competition.

Kari Emery won her quarterfinals matchup in the No. 3 singles consolation bracket after beating Nora Alcaino from Central Alabama 6-3, 6-1. Emery will play Ariana Raga from Cowley College (Kansas) in the semifinals on Wednesday.

Emery and No.1 doubles partner Tatum Rochin will play Evgina Johnson and Heather Williams from Grand Rapids Community College (Michigan) in the consolation quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Rochin lost in the quarterfinals of the No.1 singles consolation bracket to Moraine Valley’s (Illinois) Nicole Selvaggio in a three-set thriller 4-6, 6-4, 10-8.

Helen Alteiri and Kelly Ponzio played two matches in the No. 2 doubles main draw bracket. They beat Sharron Clark and Regan Perme from Collin College (Texas) 6-2, 6-4 in the round of 16 but lost to Stephanie Cardullo and Ali Underhill from Broward College (Florida) in the quarterfinals 6-1, 6-2. Alteiri and Ponzio were ranked No. 6 in the nation and Cardullo and Underhill were No. 4.

Olivia Cole-Encinas and Alecia Vasquez fell in their consolation bracket matchup to Catherine Cellitti and Liz Walters from Johnson County Community College (Kansas) 6-1, 6-2.

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The Pima women’s tennis team earned six points and was tied for 12th place after May 6 first-day action of the NJCAA National Tournament at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas.

The Aztecs got three wins in singles action. In No. 2 singles competition Helen Alteiri played through body cramps to defeat Adalyn Hazelman, from the New Mexico Military Institute, 6-4, 7-6 (4). She will play Eastern Arizona College’s Maja Sasa in the round of 16 on May 7.

Kelly Ponzio won her matchup in No. 4 singles action, defeating Susan Nguyen 6-1, 6-3. She’ll play Kristin Richardson from Cowley College (Kansas) in the round of 16.

Olivia Cole-Encinas advanced to the round of 16 after beating Leticia Monteiro from Seward County Community College (Kansas) 7-5, 7-5. Cole-Encinas will play Tyler Junior College’s Ariana Saldana in the next round.

Tatum Rochin and Kari Emery lost their first-round matchups in singles and doubles and will play in their respective consolation brackets. Alecia Vasquez also lost her first round match in No. 6 singles.

The second day of the National Tournament continues on May 7 with No. 2 and No. 3 doubles matchups kicking off.

For complete tournament results go to:
usta.com
TennisLink
USTA Adult Tournaments
Tournament I.D.: 800006112

—

By KYLE WASSON

Pima coaches and players were atop the list when tennis coaches of the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference picked All-Conference teams.

Gretchen Schantz, the women’s tennis coach, took the Coach of the Year honor for the third time (her second consecutive). Schantz led the Aztecs to a 15-4 regular season record and 9-1 in conference play.

The team won its first Region I championship since moving to Division I play in 2004.

Men’s coach Sharif Moustafa was awarded Coach of the Year for the third consecutive year after guiding the Aztecs to a 6-2 conference record and second-place finish. The Aztecs finished in second place at the regional tournament.

The following is a list of players recognized for their regular season play:

WOMEN:

1st Team All-ACCAC

Tatum Rochin – ACCAC Player of the Year, No. 1 singles

Kari Emery – No. 3 singles

Olivia Cole-Encinas – No. 5 singles

Tatum Rochin & Kari Emery – No. 1 doubles

Helen Alteiri & Kelly Ponzio – No. 2 doubles

2nd Team All-ACCAC

Helen Alteiri – No. 2 singles

Kelly Ponzio – No. 4 singles

MEN:

1st Team All-ACCAC

Victor Cabada – No. 4 singles

2nd Team All-ACCAC

Dylan Vo – No. 2 singles

Brandon Haag – No. 3 singles

Aaron Vazquez – No. 6 singles

Brandon Haag & Victor Cabada – No. 2 doubles

 The Pima Community College men’s tennis team lost its last match of the regular season at the West Campus on April 3 to Mesa Community College 7-2, securing a second place finish for the Aztecs.

 Victor Cabada fought back from 1-5 in the second set beating Tanner Hatch in the No. 4 singles match 7-6 (7-4), 7-5. Brandon Haag defeated Alex Munroe 6-2, 6-2 in the No. 3 singles match. Dillian Vo and Mesa’s Shannon Nelson played a 3 hour and 15 minute singles match but Vo retired due to cramping. The match was 5-7, 7-5, 3-2 at the time officials called it.

 The Aztecs finished the regular season with an 8-8 overall record and 6-2 in ACCAC play.

 The NJCAA Region I tournament is slated for April 16-17. In No. 4 singles competition, Cabada took the No. 1 seed. Haag filled the No. 2 seed in No. 3 singles tournament play and Aaron Vazquez also snagged a No. 2 seed in the No. 6 singles competition.

Baldemar Audeves strokes a backhand against his Mesa Community College opponent. Aztec Press photo by Larry Gaurano.

The Pima men’s tennis team won two of the three doubles matches against Paradise Valley Community College on Tuesday, winning 6-3 in the conference matchup.

Baldemar Audeves pulled from behind to take his No. 5 singles matchup 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, while teammate Dillian Vo beat Tayven Townsend, a premier player in the conference, 7-5, 6-3.

The Aztecs improved to 6-7 on the year, moving into second place in a close conference race. Pima’s next matchup is against Glendale Community College on March 27 at their place.

The team previously lost to Cerritos College (Calif.) 8-1 on March 20. However, the match featured some close matches.

Vo had success in his No. 2 singles match with a 6-2, 6-0 win. At No. 3 singles, Brandon Haag battled for three long sets but lost 7-6, 4-6, 10-8 in the tiebreaker. Audeves also lost a tough No. 5 singles match, 7-5, 7-5.

The Aztecs lost to Glendale College 8-1 in Glendale, Calif. on March 13, but No. 4 singles player Victor Cabada provided a boost of energy for the team.

Cabada bagged the only victory for the Aztecs, rallying to win his match 5-7, 6-4, 11-9. Cabada and doubles partner Haag lost a tough doubles match 9-7.

The Aztecs kicked off the road trip with a win against Imperial Valley College on March 11, 7-2.

The Pima women’s tennis match against Paradise Valley Community College was canceled March 20 but has been rescheduled for April 10 at their home court of Tucson Racquet and Fitness Club.

The Aztecs, 9-3 overall, are heading into two matches March 22 in Thatcher against Eastern Arizona at 10 a.m. and New Mexico Military Institute at 2 p.m.

The team faced a valiant Ventura College lineup on March 16, finishing their California road trip with a 7-2 loss in the final match.

Olivia Cole-Encinas shined once again for the Aztecs. Cole-Encinas went undefeated in singles and doubles competition for the road trip, winning her singles match in three sets at 6-4, 5-7, 10-4. Partner Sarah Blackwell helped Cole-Encinas in bagging a win in the No. 3 doubles match, 8-2.

California play started off kindly for the team as it defeated Cerritos College on March 15, 7-2. The Aztecs had completed a four-game winning streak prior to the fall against Ventura College.

The No. 2 doubles team of Helen Alteiri and Kelly Ponzio remain undefeated at 10-0 in doubles competition. Cole-Encinas won her No. 4 singles match against Ventura, 7-5, 6-3.

The Aztecs kicked off the road trip with a big win over Glendale College on March 15 in Glendale, Calif.

Alteiri had a tough match at the No. 2 singles spot but pulled off a three-set victory over Sofie Tavitian 7-5, 4-6, (10-7). In the No. 1 doubles match, Tatum Rochin and Kari Emery pulled out another close win, defeating Sevana Zargarian and Samantha Sismundo 8-6.

For the second straight match, the team swept its competition. The Aztecs defeated Imperial Valley College from California 9-0 on March 12 in Yuma.

Altieri returned home and continued her winning ways with doubles partner Ponzio as they took their doubles match 8-4.

Photo by Larry Gaurano

The Pima men’s tennis team did win a singles match against Mesa Community College, but lost 8-1 on March 6 in Mesa.

Dillian Vo won his No. 2 singles match over Shannon Nelson 6-3, 6-1.

Victor Cabada lost a tough battle with Tanner Hatch at No. 4 singles 5-7, 7-5, 10-8. Brandon Haag lost 7-6 (8-6), 6-3. He trailed 5-3 in the first set before storming back to force the tiebreaker.

The team got blanked 9-0 by St. Cloud State University (Minn.) on Monday at the Tucson Racquet and Fitness Club.

Joe Owen played a close match at No. 1 singles but lost 7-5, 6-2.

The Aztec’s No. 1 doubles team also lost a tough one, 8-6.

The team broke their seven-year losing streak to Scottsdale Community College, beating the Artichokes 5-4 on Mar. 1 to leave the Aztecs at 4-2.

PCC was supported by the stellar play of Haag and Cabada. The duo won their No. 2 doubles match 8-1. In singles play, Haag beat Gianni Delatto 6-1, 6-0 and Cabada beat Craig Lussier 6-4, 6-1.

On Feb. 28 the team defeated Glendale Community College 7-2.

Three days prior, the men took two out of three in doubles competition and beat San Diego City College 6-3.

Pima’s Baldamor Audeves won a tough singles match over Jose Torres 7-6, 7-5.

DJ Campas won his No. 6 singles match over Jesus Torres 6-4, 6-3.

The team is preparing for its last home match on March 6 against Mesa Community College before they begin a four-game road swing.

They will play in California March 12-15 for a tournament.

ON DECK

March 12-15: @ California Tournament, TBA, TBA
March 20: @ Paradise Valley CC, Phoenix, 1:30 p.m.

Photo By Larry Gaurano

After seeing its winning streak snapped, the Pima women’s tennis team bounced back March 6 by dominating Mesa Community College.

The Aztecs won 9-0 with another Helen Alteiri and Kelly Ponzio doubles win. Their undefeated streak continued with an 8-2 victory over Briana Prothero and Madison Porter.

Ponzio fought hard in the first set but controlled the second to beat Porter in the No. 4 singles match 7-5, 6-0.

The team ended their three-match winning streak on March 6 at the Tucson Racquet and Fitness Club against St. Cloud State University (Minn.), losing 6-3.

On March 2, the No. 2 doubles team of Altieri and Ponzio shut out their opponents to help Pima defeat the University of Mary of North Dakota 8-1.

The Aztecs improved to 5-1 overall after winning three team matches in a row.

Altieri and Ponzio beat Ashley Tuschling and Rachel Phelps 8-0, keeping their opponent shutout streak alive at three.

The Aztecs kicked March off with a dominating performance against conference rival Scottsdale Community College. TatumRochin and Kari Emery came back from a 7-4 deficit to beat Desiree Jackson and Chelsea Sloan 9-8 (7-3).

Prior matches include a dismantling of Glendale Community College 9-0 on Feb. 28 in Glendale and a Feb. 23 loss to Eastern Arizona.

The team stole two out of three in the doubles competition. However, the Gila Monsters overpowered the Aztecs in singles play.

Ponzio was a bright spot for the Aztecs, winning in doubles competition with teammate Altieri.

Ponzio also won her No. 4 singles match against Ashley Pedro 6-2, 6-2. Kari Emery had a come-from-behind win for the Aztecs, beating Cami Mathison 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the third singles match.

The ladies take their 6-2 record on the road for a four game stint. The team’s next match is against Imperial Valley College in Yuma on March 11.

ON DECK

March 11: @ Imperial Valley College, Yuma, Ariz., 1 p.m.
March 13: @ Glendale CC, Glendale, Calif., 11 a.m.
March 14: @ Cerritos College, Cerritos, Calif., 3:30 p.m.
March 15: @ Ventura College, Ventura, Calif., 9 a.m.
March 20: Paradise Valley CC, TRC, 1:30 p.m.

The Pima Community College women’s tennis squad beat Imperial Valley College 9-0 when the Aztecs played their second match of the season Feb. 10 at Tucson Racquet Club.

Imperial Valley totaled just six points in all sets.

The win gave the Aztecs a 2-0 start for the season.

“I’m impressed with how well we are competing so early in the season, and we were able to defeat this team without my full lineup,” head coach Gretchen Schantz said.

Team ace Tatum Rochin defeated Jessica Zuniga in straight sets (6-0, 6-0). She joined Kari Emery to put a doubles team to sleep in one set (8-0).

Rochin was recently offered a full ride to Northern Arizona University to play for the Lumberjacks next spring.

Other Aztec wins also came in the form of shutouts. Helen Alteiri defeated Vanesa Figueroa (6-0, 6-0) and Alecia Vasquez defeated Valerie Cavazos (6-0, 6-0). The duo of Olivia Cole-Encinas and Vasquez smothered Huerta/Cavazos (8-0).

The team’s first match of the season against Western New Mexico University came down to freshman Sarah Blackwell, who had to win in three sets to secure the team match. The final score was 5-4.

The next match will be Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Tucson Racquet Club, 4001 N. Country Club Road, against Eastern Arizona College.

Tatum Rochin volleys against Imperial Vally at Tucson Racquet Club. Photo by LARRY GAURANO.

The Aztec men’s tennis team finished their season in 13th at the 2011 NJCAA National Tournament in Plano, Texas.

On Feb. 2 the team hosts Western New Mexico University at the Tucson Racquet Club.

No. 1 player, sophomore Alan Barrios will not be returning. Barrios was eliminated in his consolation bracket final by scores 7-5 and 6-4.

No. 5 freshman Jacob Nino ended up winning his consolation bracket with a score of 6-1 and 6-3.

Pima’s No. 1 doubles team pair of sophomore Andrew Barnett and freshman Timothy Holten. won two matches on the final day to claim the top of their consolation bracket against College of Dupage (Ill.) 6-4 and 7-6 and McHenry (Ill.) College 7-6 and 7-5 last season.

“We’ve got a pretty tough schedule ahead of us,” said head coach Gretchen Schantz.

The team returns to their home court, Tucson Racquet Club, 4001 N. Country Club, on Feb. 2 against Western New Mexico University at 1p.m.

Sophomore Tatum Rochin returns as Pima’s No.1 and No. 29 in the nation.

“Our main goal is to qualify for nationals and make that trip to Tyler,” Schantz said.

Tyler, Texas will host the National Junior College Athletic Association Division 1 women’s tennis tournament. Last year’s tournament took place in Tucson, which produced an Aztec best finish since joining the division in 2004.

Hannah McLeod/ Aztec Press