College of the Desert Seeks
Fourth Consecutive Title in Men's Tennis;
New Women's State Champion
To Be Crowned
Posted on: May 8 2001 9:17PM
SACRAMENTO - The College of the Desert men's tennis
team will be gunning for its fourth consecutive state championship on
Thursday, May 10, on the American River College courts as the Roadrunners
square off against the Fresno City College Rams starting at 10:30 a.m.
American River is hosting this year's Hyundai-California Community
College Men's and Women's State Tennis Championships from May 10-12.
Dual-team championships will be played on Thursday on the American River
College campus while the individual singles and doubles tournament will
be played Friday and Saturday at the Broadstone Racquet Club in Folsom.
COD (19-2) has won the past three state titles, four of the past
five, and six of the past nine. Since 1990 only two other teams have
captured the men's state title. Saddleback won in 1990, '91, and '95
while Foothill earned titles in 1994 and '97.
Although the Roadrunners will be favored to win their fourth consecutive
title, Fresno City (14-1) is no stranger to state championship events.
Rams coach Mark Belman won back-to-back state tennis titles with the
Fresno City women's team in 1999 and 2000 and will be trying to add
a men's title to his coaching honors this week. Fresno has never won
the men's team title.
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The Rams lone loss on the season was a 5-4 non-conference setback at
Saddleback College. Desert defeated Saddleback, 5-1, last week in the regional
finals.
The women's team title will be up for grabs starting at 1:00 p.m. on
the American River College courts. Two-time defending champion Fresno City
was ousted by Santa Rosa Junior College in the Northern California Regional
Finals last week by a 5-0 count, meaning the Bear Cubs will be representing
the north in the title match. Their opponent has not yet been determined
as Grossmont and Santa Barbara colleges will play the Southern California
Regional Final match on Tuesday, May 8.
Neither Santa Rosa nor Santa Barbara have ever won a women's tennis title,
although Santa Barbara was the runner-up to Fresno City in last year's event.
Grossmont has seven state championships to its credit, the most recent coming
in 1996. The Griffins won all seven of their state titles in a nine-year
span from 1988 to 1996, with only Orange Coast College interrupting the
string with state titles in 1989 and 1994.
Community College Tennis, Dual-Team Championships
@ American River College, Sacramento
MEN
College of the Desert (19-2) vs. Fresno City College
(14-1), 10:30 a.m.
WOMEN
Grossmont or Santa Barbara City vs. Santa Rosa Junior College, 1 p.m.
Jerry Hannula, contact (949) 582-4490, phone (949) 582-4224, fax |
