COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS : Pierce Shuffles Lineup, Then Rolls Over Cuesta

The Pierce men’s tennis team, which has lost only once in its last 120 conference matches, continued to roll Friday with a 9-0 win over Cuesta in a Western State Conference match at Cuesta.

Pierce Coach Paul Xanthos altered his singles lineup, but none of the Pierce players had difficulty winning their matches.

Dave Valastro, who played in the No. 5 position during the first round of conference play, played at No. 1 Friday and defeated Steve Vines, 6-3, 7-6. Robert Grundy, who played at No. 2 instead of his usual No. 4 spot, defeated Henry Wilson, 6-1, 6-0.

John Freeman, Alex Olaya, Mike Rosenthal and Dereck Messana also coasted to singles victories for Pierce, which has won 22 straight conference matches over two seasons.

“I’m giving the other kids a chance to play higher because they’re all so close in ability and they beat each other in practice all the time,” Xanthos said. “We’re still strong even that way.”

Pierce (10-0, 11-2 overall) is the No. 2 team in the state, as ranked by the California Community College Coaches poll. This despite playing all but two matches without its No. 1 player, Nelson Gary, who is hospitalized with a back injury.

VOLLEYBALL

Cal State Northridge (10-15) defeated UC Irvine, 15-5, 16-18, 15-13, 15-11, in a nonconference match at Irvine (0-11).

SOFTBALL

Pauline Madrid hurled a one-hitter and struck out seven to lead Pierce to a 2-0 win over Bakersfield in a Western State Conference game at Pierce. Sabrina Kuhn of Pierce was 2 for 3 and scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the third. Rose Trimarchi was 2 for 3 with an RBI for Pierce (7-6, 3-1).