Corsairs face setback in loss against Vaqueros amidst injuries
On Tuesday, March 18, the Santa Monica College (SMC) women’s tennis team experienced a challenging defeat in their match against Santa Barbara Community College’s (SBCC) Vaqueros, falling 3-6 despite an early promise of victory. A lead in doubles turned into a series of unfortunate setbacks in singles, with injuries sidelining key players and hampering the team's ability to fight back.
The Corsairs kicked off the match with a strong showing in doubles, securing two out of three victories. Corsair Anaya Ayanbadejo and Yesugen Ganbaatar paired up to win their No. 1 doubles match 8-6, showing great chemistry and determination. However, Ganbaatar’s performance was marred by injury; after the doubles win, she suffered ankle and back pain. The Corsairs’ No. 2 doubles partners, Yulia Klokova and Chandler Nelson, won their match 8-6. The Corsair Mara LaForte and Sydney Belanger were defeated in No. 3 doubles with a score of 3-8.
As the singles matches unfolded, the Corsairs’ momentum quickly faded. The team was plagued by injuries, with No. 3 singles player LaForte unable to move effectively on the court due to a knee issue, leading to her defeat in her singles match. Nelson, already struggling with health concerns, reported difficulty breathing during her No. 5 singles match, which further hindered her performance, resulting in a 1-6, 0-6 match loss. Due to an acute wrist injury, Corsair Angelina Andrejic was not able to start in her No. 6 singles match.
Ayanbadejo, playing No.1 singles, and Klokova playing No.2 singles were both fighting hard to make up for their injured teammates. Ayanbadejo lost in two sets 3-6, 3-6. Klokova first took the lead after she won her first set 6-2. After winning her first set, her opponent triumphed in the second set with a 0-6 score. At that time a victory for either team could not have been declared yet, leading Klokova into a third set which she lost 5-7.
Sydney was the standout player for the Corsairs in singles matchup, pulling off a victory in her No. 4 single match despite the mounting challenges around her. The team was still unable to recover from the earlier setbacks, with the final score tallying a 3-6 loss against the Vaqueros.
Corsair team captain Sophie de Muelenaere was also sidelined, recovering from her participation in the 40th L.A. Marathon. De Muelenaere expressed her frustration at being unable to contribute, but hopes to return to the court in Saturday's game against Los Angeles Mission College.
"We are currently in fifth place of the Western State Conference and need to win the last three matches and our opponents also need to not have any upsets in their favor that would lower our final standings. If we can finish in third place, we should have a good chance of getting an at-large playoff spot,” said Corsairs’ head coach Richard Goldenson.
Despite the loss, the Corsairs are determined to regroup and push forward. Several injured players are expected to recover and return for their upcoming matches against LA Mission College on March 22 at 9:30 a.m. and Ventura College on March 25 at 1 p.m. These matchups will be crucial in determining whether the Corsairs can make a push for the playoffs.