American River completes unbeaten season to capture second straight 3C2A Women's Tennis Championship

VENTURA - In a repeat state final match-up from a year ago, the American River women's tennis team ensured a repeat champion Wednesday by defeating Orange Coast 5-0 in the 3C2A State Finals at Ventura College. ARC's Nahreen Cheam went love-love in No. 1 singles and Jannae Spitters clinched the championship in No. 3 singles to finish off an undefeated season for the Beavers and head coach Steven Dunmore.

Mandi Pinkerton and Spitters raced out to a 3-1 lead in No. 2 doubles for American River while OCC's No. 1 pair of Tori Varela and Olivia Sipiora held the early edge on the No. 1 court. Meanwhile, Camila Nelson and Merrit Dubourdieu helped the Pirates to a 3-0 advantage in No. 3 doubles.

Things turned around quickly for the Beavers, however, as Cheam and Bella Hernandez won four straight games on Court 1 to hold a 5-2 margin. OCC hung tough in No. 3 doubles with a 3-2 lead before Maiah White and Kaitlyn Nicholsky tied the match at 4-4.

Pinkerton and Spitters continued their dominance in the No. 2 doubles match, winning American River's first point of the championship, 8-2. Cheam and Hernandez continued to play well for the Beavers, taking the No. 1 court 8-3 and White and Nicholsky rolled to their 8-4 win in No. 3 doubles, giving ARC a commanding 3-0 lead in the match.

"We spent a lot of time on doubles," said Dunmore. "I'm glad we put the work in."

The Beavers were solid at the top of the line-up in singles play as Cheam, White and Spitters yielded a total of three games in winning their first sets. Hernandez also won her first set 6-0 as American River was rolling.

In quick succession, Cheam completed her 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 1 and Spitters claimed the No. 3 singles contest 6-2, 6-3, to clinch the title. Hernandez and White were also one game away from taking their Nos. 2 and 5 matches, respectively, when the Beavers claimed the crown.

"It feels amazing," said White, who was a member of last year's state-title team. "I'm glad we proved we are just as good or better (than last year)."

"(Its) never like the first time," said Dunmore. "There is a little more appreciation instead of excitement."

"It's still very special."

3C2A WOMEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
American River 5, Orange Coast 0

Doubles
Nahreen Cheam/Bella Hernandez (ARC) def. Tori Varela/Olivia Sipiora (OCC), 8-3
Mandi Pinkerton/Janne Spitters (ARC) def. Rhea Gagnepain/Leanne Pascua (OCC), 8-2
Maiah White/Kaitlyn Nicholsky (ARC) def. Camila Nelson/Merrit Dubourdieu (OCC), 8-4

Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3

Singles
Cheam (ARC) def. Nelson (OCC), 6-0, 6-0
White (ARC) vs. Varela (OCC), 6-1, 5-1, DNF
Spitters (ARC) def. Sipiora (OCC), 6-2, 6-3
Nicholsky (ARC) vs. Gagnepain (OCC), 5-5, DNF
Hernandez (ARC) vs. Dubourdieu (OCC), 6-0, 5-4, DNF
Laney Reddick (ARC) vs. Pascua (OCC), 4-6, 1-1

Order of Finish: 1, 3

Team Records: American River (19-0), Orange Coast (22-2)

(Robin Hester, Ventura College Sports Information)