Women’s tennis head coach Gene Lundquist has never sent a player to the state championships in his tenure at Bakersfield College.
Until now.
The Dickerson twins will advance in doubles play after defeating the top duo of Kristina Drzymkowski and Rylee Stowell of Saddleback College in the 3rd round 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. The 2 hour and 55 minute match propelled them into a guaranteed spot in the state championships in Sacramento.
Shabrena and Sarena Dickerson are the only BC players who will be representing the Southern California region May 9-10 at the state championships.
“This is the first team since I’ve been here that has qualified to go to the state championships,” said Lundquist.
The Dickerson’s had a first-round bye and faced Tosches and Bickert of Grossmont College in the 2nd round. They won that match 6-2, 6-2 to get to the match-up with Drzymkowski and Stowell.
Unfortunately, the Dickerson’s will not have the company of their fellow teammates on the court.
Katie O’Leary has fared well in the No. 2 spot for the Renegades all season especially toward the end. O’Leary had a first-round bye and defeated M. Boyer of Orange Coast College handily 6-0, 6-1 in the 2nd round.
O’Leary lost to S. Nadres of Ceritos 6-2, 6-4 in the 3rd round. Nadres’ win will keep O’Leary from advancing to the state championships.
“She was a good player,” said O’Leary. “She hit the ball really well.”
Her coach also commended her for a hard-fought match.
“Katie gave her a real good battle,” said Lundquist.
Carly de Anda and Ashley Simpson of Palomar College defeated Bakersfield College’s duo of O’Leary and Emily Carnal 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the 2nd round.
Along with O’Leary, the doubles team of Jessica Burrow and Cooper Niswonger was also defeated before making it to the state level. They lost 6-1, 6-1 in the 2nd round to Palomar College’s No. 1 seeded team of Arina Polovnikova and Shoko Hachiya.
Shabrena Dickerson competed in the singles bracket and beat the No. 1 player from Saddleback College, K. Drzymkowski, 6-3, 6-2 in the 2nd round. Brittany Bass of Orange Coast College defeated Sh. Dickerson 6-0, 6-1 to deny Bakersfield College from having a player in the singles bracket for the state championships.
The only BC men who competed in the Southern California Championships were Neal Wetterholm and Kevin Lott.
They defeated the tandem of Dane Thomson and Nissim Cohen of San Diego Mesa 6-3, 6-2 in the first round but lost to Sam Tozer and Deondre Moss of Cypress College in the second round 6-2, 6-3.