By Joshua Laska - Sports/Managing Editor
Senior 12th ranked Martina Rubesova was named the PSAC Tournament most outstanding player after helping the Vulcans to their sixth-straight PSAC title. As well as, was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Year after a 25-6 regular season record in singles.
The eighth ranked California Vulcan tennis team captured their sixth-straight PSAC Championship last weekend. The Vulcans defeated Kutztown in the semifinals 5-0, followed by defeating 41st ranked IUP 6-1 in the finals. The Vulcans are 21-5 on the season and 5-0 in the PSAC. The Vulcans now look towards the NCAA Tournament, which begins tomorrow, April 28. The Vulcans are currently ranked first in the Atlantic region and will host the first rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
Against Kutztown, the fifth ranked doubles team of senior Martina Rubesova and senior Franziska Steinhardt defeated Hannah Pipkin and Ridhima Borooah, 8-0. In the second position senior Anastassiya Zherdeva and freshman Ramona Czakon defeated Rachel Grula and Stefanie Fisher, 8-0. Freshman Jolien Borrenberghs and classmate Jesse Burrell defeated Tori Zander and Jennifer Stow, 8-0 to sweep the doubles point.
In singles, Steinhardt defeated Grula 6-0 and 6-1 in the third position, Czakon defeated Chelsea White 6-1 and 6-0. Those were the only two matches that needed to be finished to defeat Kutztown. 12th ranked Rubesova, Zherdeva, Burrell and Borrenberghs all had one set leads over their Kutztown opponents when the match ended.
In doubles, against 41st ranked IUP, fifth ranked team of Rubesova and Steinhardt defeated Katie Eaton and Tabtip Louhabanjong, 8-0. In the second position, the 16th ranked team of senior Annabel Pieschl and junior Jade Pondicas lost to Emilia Osborne and Tanya Timko, 7-9. Zherdeva and Czakon defeated Erika Schnass and Ranvita Mahto, 8-4 in the third position.
In singles, 12th ranked Rubesova defeated Louhabanjong 6-1 and 6-2, while 42nd ranked Pondicas defeated Eaton 6-1 and 6-4, in the third position. Steinhardt defeated Osborne 6-0 and 6-4 in the fifth position, Czakon defeated Schnass 6-1 and 6-3 to captured the important sixth win for the Vulcans. 41st ranked Pieschl was down one set and Zherdeva was up one set, when the match ended due to the Vulcans winning.
Rubesova was named the PSAC Tournament most outstanding player after the Vulcans won their sixth-straight PSAC title. Rubesova was also named PSAC West Athlete of the Year after posting a 25-6 record in regular season play.
Along with Rubesova, Pieschl earned All-PSAC West honors for singles play. While, Rubesova and Steinhardt earned All-PSAC west honors as a doubles team.
The Vulcans will begin their quest for their first NCAA Championship tomorrow against Winston Salem at 1 p.m. Should the Vulcans win they will play the winner of the West Virginia State verse Shaw match on Sunday, April 29 at 10 a.m.
