Women's tennis brings home conference honors, falls short at state championships

The Santa Monica College Lady Corsairs finished the tennis season as the second ranked doubles team in California. In Ojai, Calif. from April 25 to April 27, Kaori Tsuda and Juliana Nelkin made it all the way to the doubles final of the State Championships before losing a close match to Fullerton Community College's Sarah Anderson and Victoria Vo, 6-3 and 7-5.

"It was a matter of a few points here and there and they managed to get the few points," said Nelkin.

Tsuda, Nelkin and teammate Carmel Peterson were named to the All-Conference Team for the Western State Conference.

"We all lost our singles matches in the round of 16, but we'll be back next year," said Nelkin. "I won't be on the team, but I'll travel with them."

Lady Corsair Jessica Goldbeck also received an honorable mention to the All-Conference team.

"It's encouraging to receive honorable mention, and I've improved," said Goldbeck.

Also bringing home an award was head coach Richard Goldenson, who was selected as the Western State Conference coach of the year.

"It's easy to be coach of the year when you have the team of the year," said Goldenson. "It was an honor to be the coach of so many extremely talented tennis players and, most of all, great students."