In the season opener for the Hancock College women's tennis team, Ashley Brady was playing her first college match. Even though she had to play a little longer than she remembered playing at Cabrillo High, the freshman made a pretty good debut.

Reedley College defeated Hancock 7-2 at the AHC courts Tuesday afternoon, but Brady played well, winning her singles match 6-4, 6-4 and with doubles partner Kacie Guggia, took their opponents to a tie breaker before falling, 9-8 (7-3).

“At first, I started out really strong, but actually this is my first college match,” Brady said. “I didn't know we had to play two sets.”

In community college, each singles match is best two-out-of-three sets as compared to single sets in high school.

“I kind of gave it all in the first set,” Brady continued, “and in the second, I was playing backward. Playing a little more defensively - but it was so much fun.”

Reedley took five of the six singles matches to open the day, but Maty Martinez and Kacie Guggia at the three and four positions played tough. Martinez fell 6-4, 6-4 to Sandy Klassen, while Guggia went down 6-3, 6-4 to Tami Taylor.

“The girls have been trying some things that we've been doing in practice,” Hancock coach Ginny Barnett explained about the singles play. “Out of the six of them, four are doubles players and one never played in high school.

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“Then the one who won, was a singles player,” Barnett continued, talking about Brady. “She understands the game a little bit more.”

All three doubles matches were competitive. Returning all-conference player Elysha McLain and her new partner Maty Martinez came from behind and won 9-7 in number one doubles, Brady and Guggia fell in the tie break, while Isabelle Ugeux and Francesca Sanchez dropped the number three match 8-4.

“In doubles, I was really pleased with how competitive we were,” said Barnett. “We've been working really hard this week on doubles and even though we won only one of those today, we played better.

“There is a strategy involved and the girls actually were playing to that strategy. They attacked the ball and came to the net. The other thing is they're very coachable and it showed.”

Last year McLain was an All-Western State Conference team member at number three singles and number two doubles. This year she is expected to play number one singles and doubles.

Before teaming with Martinez for the doubles win, she fell in straight sets to Amy Lepp 6-0, 6-0.

“It's a huge jump going from three to one,” Barnett said. “But I have such faith in her abilities. She's such an athlete and she's a competitor, but she's basically a doubles player.

“She has to take her singles strategy up a notch. You can't get away at the number one spot just being a great athlete - she understands that now.”

McLain was disappointed with the result of her singles match, but was not discouraged.

“I'm ready for the challenge,” she said. “Even though it didn't work out today doesn't mean it won't in the future.

“I definitely think I will get stronger. There's always room for improvement no matter what sport. I'm just going to work hard and get out there every day.”

The team is not afraid to work hard in practice, which has pleased Barnett. And the attitude has been good as well.

“My coach is competitive and I'm very competitive,” McLain said. “We both like to win.”

Brady has noticed that she is not at the high school level anymore.

“It's a lot more intense and we are working on more technique,” Brady explained.

Hancock hosts American River at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Note: On Monday at 9 a.m. the Hancock women's team will hold its first-ever alumni match. Coach Barnett has received 11 RSVP's from former Bulldogs who will make a appearance to play against the current team. The hope is to make the event an annual affair.

February 13, 2008