Pirates advance toward finals

FULLERTON ? Orange Coast College’s women’s tennis team sent three singles players and one doubles team to the final day of play at the Orange Empire Conference tournament Thursday at Fullerton College.

The Pirates’ Jessica Rice, Julie Haley and Emily Paulson each won in the quarterfinals to reach the semifinals. Rice and Paulson also won in the doubles semifinals and will play in today’s final.

The three singles players and one doubles team qualified for the state regional in San Diego, starting May 4. In addition, Jaleh Mazaheri (who lost in the singles quarterfinals) and the doubles team of Haley and Hazaheri (who lost in the doubles semifinals) also earned a spot in the regional.

The singles semifinals start at 11 a.m. today, with the singles final slated for approximately 1 p.m. The doubles final follows at approximately 3 p.m.