SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONS GIVE REPEAT PERFORMANCE

CARLSBAD - One week after claiming the Southern California Regional championships, the singles and doubles champions were back to take home state titles. In singles, Jessica Knitter of Mt. San Antonio College was the state champion, while in doubles, Rosie Schoepf and Eileen Francabandera of Long Beach won in three sets for their state crown this weekend at the California Community College Women's Tennis State Championships at La Costa Resort & Spa.
In singles play, Knitter rolled through the tournament, winning eight sets without losing one. She defeated Lauren Gaona of Venmra in the semifinals, 6-3, 6-4, then defeated Gina Dunch of Cuesta in the final, 6-3, 6-2. Dunch had advanced to the final by defeating Ventura's Heidi Treadwell, 6-3, 6-2.

In doubles play, Schoepf and Francabandera took home a well-earned title. The pair from Long Beach defeated Stephanie Chang and Veronica Soremet of Orange Coast in the semifinals, 6-1, 6-3. They were then taken to the limit in a three-set final against Santa Barbara's Jenny May and Alena Votavova. Schoepf and Francabandera came out on top with a 6-3, 3-6, 64 victory for the crown. For May and Votovova, the defeat ended a run that saw the pair advance to the final while knocking off the North Regional champions (Lauren Weber and Jenny Rogers of Santa Rosa) in the quarterfinals by a 6-1, 0-6, 6-4 score, and the South Regional runners-up (Stepanka Folgetova and Laurel Brown of Grossmont) in the semifinals, 6-4, 7-6 (3).
This marks the first time that Mt. San Antonio College and Long Beach City College have had tennis state champions.

###

Reported by Robert Trevino, State Tournament Publicist; Grossmont College S.I.D.