Women’s tennis: Coast takes OEC singles, doubles titles

MISSION VIEJO - Veronica Sommer and Stephanie Chang started the day

as bitter foes before ending the night as best buddies at the Orange

Empire Conference Tournament Friday at Saddleback College.

Sommer and Chang, teammates on the Orange Coast College women’s tennis

team went head-to-head for the conference singles’ title. Sommer, ranked

No. 2 in the state in singles competition, edged Chang, 6-4, 6-4.

“That was fun because I didn’t have to coach,” Coach Janice Maran said

with a laugh. “I just watched. I tried to keep quiet, but it wasn’t easy

at times.”

Maran went back to work when the Pirates’ duo hooked up in doubles.

After a 6-2, 6-4 semifinals win over Riverside’s Regina Bradford and

Allison Payne, Sommer and Chang outlasted Saddleback’s Lena Bowen and

Janet Suthisamphat, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in the finals.

“It’s been a while since OCC won both the singles and doubles titles

in the same year,” Maran said. “They (Sommer and Chang) struggled through

the entire finals. I just told them to sit down, close their eyes and

visualize what they know how to do and that’s play outstanding tennis.”

OCC has qualified four singles players and two doubles teams for the

upcoming Regional Tournament May 3-5 at Southwestern College. Before

that, the Pirates will compete at the Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament April

26-29.