2018 Season in Review - COD Women's Tennis

COD wrapped up the 2018 season at the CCCAA Individual State Finals, winning the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference (PCAC) singles title and the doubles Conference title. 

Under first-year head coach Morgan McIntosh, Desert finished the regular season 7-7 overall and 7-7 in PCAC play, finishing in third place. The Roadrunners returned to the court after a one year hiatus and were impressive in sweeping the season series from Southwestern, Palomar and San Diego Mesa.

The Roadrunners placed an individual player in the "Round of 32" at the CCCAA Individual State Finals which took place at the Ojai 118th Annual Tennis Tournament, with freshman Claudia Stepien (Palm Desert H.S.) securing the individual number four seed.

Since she was awarded the number four seed overall, Stepien was given a "Round of 128" bye. Rolling onto the singles "Round of 64," grabbing a hard fought victory over her opponent from Irvine Valley College, where she fell in the opening set 6-1, then rebounded in the second set 7-5, and completed the win with a 6-1 demolition in the third and deciding set. The "Round of 32" proved to be much easier than the previous round of play as Stepien blasted past a player from Ventura College, 6-1; 6-0 and onto the "Round of 16." Stepien would meet the number six seeded player, falling in straight sets to the player from Cerritos College who would eventually go on to win the CCCAA State Individual Championship, 6-0; 6-1.

Stepien and doubles teammate, freshman Ana Laura Ochoa-Castillo (Albuquerque (NM) Atrisco Heritage Academy), were awarded the number ten seed overall in the doubles bracket, so they were given a "Round of 128" bye. In the "Round of 64," they were matched up with a team from Modesto College, who also was given a first round bye and slammed them in straight sets 6-4; 6-1. The team of Stepien and Ochoa-Castillo would move onto the "Round of 32" facing a doubles team from Folsom Lake College, which was seeded seventh overall and while the match was close, the Roadrunners fell, 6-4; 6-2.

Follow COD Athletics on Twitter @COD_Athletics Instagram @COD_Athletics or Facebook @College of the Desert Athletics

For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.