GCC plays host to GCC
NORTHEAST GLENDALE — For the record, the Glendale Community College men’s and women’s tennis programs won their respective matches Friday afternoon.
To avoid confusion, Glendale college of Glendale, Calif., faced visiting Glendale college of Glendale, Ariz., for the first time in nonconference matches.
With the Arizona squads on their spring break, Friday was a perfect time for the teams to lock horns. The coaches from each school scheduled the matches last fall.
The Vaqueros managed to split the matches, as the men’s squad cruised to a 9-0 win and the women’s team was handed a 7-2 loss.
Behind solid efforts from its singles players, host Glendale college (12-4) won the men’s competition by getting singles wins from Rony Yeghnazary, Joey Tresierras, Ryan Stanbury, Paul Nagapetyan, Marko Gortinski and Sevag Bairamian to topple the Gauchos (4-10).
“It’s nice to beat somebody named GCC from another city,” said Vaquero men’s Coach Bob MacKay, who got doubles victories from Yeghnazary and Bairamian, Stanbury and Tresierras and Gortinski and Nagapetyan. “I’d love to be able to keep scheduling them.
“We tried to initiate them to come here a couple of years ago, but they didn’t show up. I think we came out flying and were able to take care of business by winning those six points in singles.”
In the women’s competition, the Gauchos (7-4) took care of business by rattling off five singles wins to turn back the Vaqueros (6-6).
Sophomore Vaquero Monique Palmera went the distance to rally past Julie Kerr for a 4-6, 6-2, 10-6 victory. The Vaqueros’ other win came when Palmera teamed with Glendale High graduate Meldia Hacobian to pick up an 8-6 victory.
Anela Pehlic, Katie Lively, Daishawna Matthews, Ashley Kildoo and Elida Carranza had singles wins for the Gauchos. Kerr and Kildoo and Megan Hallick and Carranza recorded wins in doubles.
Vaquero women’s Coach Terry Coblentz said the Gauchos showed a different style of play not often seen in California.
“They are different than teams in our conference,” Coblentz said. “There was much more top spin.
“It’s a great experience and a different experience to play against a team like that. Whenever you see a different team, it’s a good thing. A different mix is a good thing so it gets you ready for the conference tournament next month.”
The Gauchos arrived in California on Tuesday and will travel back to their suburban school northwest of Phoenix on Sunday.
Both Gaucho squads will play in two nonconference matches today. The Gauchos competed against College of the Desert and Orange Coast Community College on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, before battling the Vaqueros.
“It’s fun for the kids to play another team called Glendale Community College,” said Gaucho Coach Chris Tolson, who serves as coach for both programs. “We are out here looking to get better and learn something about ourselves.
“You always try to look for different colleges to play. It’s good to see them fight out there for points.”
