The American River women’s tennis team played host to divisional foe Santa Rosa on Friday, March 1. The women lost the match 6-1.

The match got on the way with doubles. The American River No. 1 team, featuring Nicole Fleischmann and Jessica Patterson, lost to Megan Schneider and Erin Leveroni 8-5.

The No. 2 pair of Michelle Lane and Victoria Tacherra lost their match vs. Angel Tran and Jackie Bisda 8-4.

Meanwhile, Joanna Mejia and Karli Williams played Laura Essayah and Olivia Piazza to an 8-3 loss in their match.

Coach Sara Jackson was impressed with the usual pairing of teammates Nicole Fleischmann and Jessica Patterson, noting that they played well together in their match.

Despite not being able to come away with a doubles victory, the women headed in to singles play with high hopes.

In the singles matches, followed in suit of the doubles matches, Madison Houk of American River lost to Piazza in two sets (6-0, 6-1). Mejia lost to Bisda in straight sets (6-3, 6-2). Tacherra lost in two sets to her opponent Laura Essayah (6-1, 6-1).

Fleischmann, facing Tran and Patterson, who was paired against Schneider, each had fought hard matches against their opponents. The two athletes played each match with several long volleys and made the ladies from Santa Rosa work for their points. Unfortunately, their hard fought effort wasn’t enough for either of them to win.  Fleischmann lost to Tran in straight sets (6-4, 6-2), and Patterson lost (6-2, 6-2).

The silver lining for the ladies unsuccessful day came when Lane secured the only win for the women’s team against Leveroni. The match was hard fought with Lane winning in three sets (4-6, 6-2, 12-10).

While the ladies were playing, Coach Jackson was making her way through each of the courts, discussing strategies with some of the players.

“During the match, there were things that Joanna and I were working on,” Jackson said.

“All of the ladies have been improving and have been working on things in practice and gradually implementing them into their matches.”

The ladies next match is vs. Diablo Valley College on Friday, March 8. The women will pick things up at ARC again on March 21 when they face Chabot College at 2 p.m.