Pushing through until the end, the El Camino College Warriors women’s tennis team hosted the San Diego City College Knights was unable to win a set in non-conference play.

The Knights, the 2024 Pacific Coast Athletic Conference champions, defeated the Warriors 9-0 in the match on Friday, March 7, a game rescheduled from Feb. 7 due to rain.

“I think everybody’s pretty positive, and I think we have a little more depth than we did last year as a team, … so [we’re] hopeful that we can keep that going and do it again this year,” Knights coach Jami Yonekura-Jones said.

The past few weeks have been difficult for the teams, with rain and cold weather forcing match rescheduling.

“We’re just trying to … get rest and practice and kind of stay with what we’ve been doing since the beginning of the season and just stay the course,” Yonekura-Jones said.

The Knights are currently on a game streak of 4-0 in conference play and 9-2 overall.

In doubles matches, played in the first half, the Knights No. 1 duo Angie Palmerin and Betty Gezahegne defeated the Warriors’ No. 1 duo Karen Canela and Jhanine Estigoy on Court 1.

“Going into doubles, [Jhanine and I] were just trying to stay calm because of the wind, because that really changes the way we play. We can’t overdo it or else [the ball] is just going to go out,” Canela said.

The duo faced a tough match-up.

“It was hard getting used to [the Knights’] power, but … we had a lot of rallies; a lot of points that we went to do. It was just a matter of, every now and then, messing up, but we did good,” Canela said.

On Court 2, Knights duo Anya Villanueva and Chiara Burgin defeated Robyn Wong and Maya Peck, the Warriors No. 2 duo.

In singles matches, played in the second half, the Warriors’ No. 1 singles player Wong, went up against the Knights’ No. 1 singles player Palmerin, but was defeated on Court 1.

“I try to go into the matches with energy because in tennis you play eight games … in the singles. You have to be able to carry the energy through, so it’s good to start with a lot of energy,” Wong said. “Going into it, [I felt] a little trepidation; a little nervous, but overall felt good.”

The Warriors knew they were up against a strong opponent.

“They were realistic about going into the conference,” Warriors coach Sergiu Boerica said. “It’s more difficult to have consistency; to keep up with those with more experience.”

In other singles matches, the Knights’ No. 4 Villanueva defeated the Warriors’ No. 2 Canela on Court 2, the Knights’ No. 5 Burgin defeated the Warriors’ No. 3 Estigoy on Court 4 and the Knights’ No. 6 Thi Bich Ngoc Dang defeated the Warriors’ No. 4 Peck on Court 5.

Court 3 was unplayable due to rain the day before.

“Throughout the season, it’s definitely been hard playing our net, but today’s match really showed that as long as we stay calm, we strategize,” Estigoy said. “We can do it, even if it’s a tough opponent we’re facing, as long as we’re doing our best.”

The Warriors are now 0-4 in conference play and 0-9 overall.

They next face the Rio Hondo College Roadrunners (1-4) in conference play on the ECC Tennis Courts Thursday at 2 p.m.