South Coast Conference play got underway on Tuesday for Rio Hondo College but in a battle of Roadrunners, College of the Desert came out on top by a final score of 6-3 in a match played in Palm Desert.

With the loss, Rio Hondo fell to 3-4 overall and 0-1 in the SCC.

Desert opened the contest taking two of three doubles matches. At No. 3, the Rio Hondo duo of Daisy Haro and Kristie Jimenez cruised to an 8-1 victory over COD's Emily Gallego and Sariah Sanchez. The No. 2 Rio Hondo team of Monique Rojas and Yadira Naranjo also put up a fight, but lost a close 8-5 match to COD's Kiarra Bragg and Agustina Berrondo.

In singles, Rio Hondo captured wins at the No. 3 (Rojas) and No. 4 (Haro) spots. Rojas picked up a victory after her opponent Hannah Johnson was forced to retire from the match because of injury. And Haro earned a 7-5, 6-3 win over Bragg.

Rio Hondo returns to action on Thursday (Feb. 20) when it hosts Mt. San Antonio College in a 2 p.m. South Coast Conference match.

Desert 6, Rio Hondo 3

DOUBLES:
#1: Daffon / Johnson (COD) def. Tellez / Diaz (RIO) 8-1
#2: Bragg / Berrondo (COD) def. Rojas/Naranjo (RIO) 8-5
#3: Haro / Jimenez (RIO) def. Gallegos / Sanchez (COD) 8-1

SINGLES:
#1: Shekinah Daffon (COD) def. Gabby Tellez (RIO) 6-0, 6-0
#2: Agustina Berrondo (COD) def. Heaven Diaz (RIO) 6-0, 6-0
#3: Monique Rojas (RIO) def. Hannah Johnson (COD) 1-2 (Ret.)
#4: Daisy Haro (RIO) def. Kiara Bragg (COD) 7-5, 6-3
#5: Sariah Sanchez (COD) def. Yadira Naranjo (RIO) 6-1, 6-2
#6: Angie Millan (COD) def. Kristie Jimenez (RIO) 6-1, 6-4