Pineda Wins Three-Set Match as Aztecs Women's Tennis Beat Hastings College

The Pima Community College women's tennis team won a non-conference match on Sunday against a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) school.

The No. 19 ranked Aztecs defeated Hastings College (Neb.) 7-2 at Mesa Community College. Pima won two of the three doubles matches and sealed the win with five of the six singles played.

Freshman Dana Pineda (Rincon/University HS) won a tough match at No. 6 singles as she fought back after dropping the second set to beat Molly Mitchell 7-6, 1-6, 13-11. Sophomore Stephanie Nickles (Ironwood Ridge HS) was in a close match at No. 3 singles and defeated Elizabeth Harlow 6-4, 6-4. Freshman Samantha Ruth (Catalina Foothills HS) held off Alexa Obermier at No. 2 singles 6-3, 6-3.

Freshman Kelsey Brown (Ironwood Ridge HS) and sophomore Ema Hernandez (Sunnyside HS) earned shutout set wins in their matches. Brown defeated Madison Fortunato 6-0, 6-2 in her No. 1 singles match while Hernandez won her No. 4 singles match over Brenna Obermier 6-3, 6-0.

Freshman Fernanda Miller (Nogales HS) lost her match at No, 5 singles 7-6, 6-0 to Jessica Zach.

In doubles competition, Brown and Ruth defeated Fortunato and Alexa Obermier 8-2 at No. 1 doubles while Hernandez and Pineda won their No. 3 doubles match over Zach and Mitchell 8-4. Nickles and Miller fell in their No. 2 doubles match 8-5 to Harlow and Brenna Obermier.

The Aztecs will open ACCAC conference play on Thursday when they host Eastern Arizona College at the Tucson Racquet Club. The match begins at 1:30 p.m.

Dana Pineda/Photo by Ben Carbajal