May 6, 2021

Santa Monica CA

The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) has ranked the SMC Corsairs women's tennis team as the #1 ranked team in Southern California.  Coach Richard Goldenson commented about the 2021 team's success, "This team is one of the hardest working teams I have coached in my 21 seasons at Santa Monica College.  They are also one of the most talented.  The combination of talent and a great work ethic is the reason why this 2021 team has been so successful."

 The Corsairs, are currently undefeated and on May 4, 2021 clinched a share of the WSC Championship title with a decisive 8-1 win at home over visiting Antelope Valley College.

On May 6, 2021, SMC travels to Ventura College and if the Corsairs prevail over the Pirates, SMC will be the sole Champions of the Western State Conference for 2021. SMC defeated the Pirates in their first match on April 27, 2021 in Santa Monica.

After the match against Ventura, SMC's final match of the season will be against the visiting Mounties of Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 (1:00pm start).  SMC edged out the Mounties in the teams' first meeting on April 20, 2021 in a close and thrilling 5-4 win.

 If SMC can repeat their first-round wins against Ventura and Mt. SAC, the Corsairs will have accomplished a perfect, undefeated season which has only been done once before in school history, in 2011, when the Corsairs finished the season with a 17-0 record.

 Goldenson commented, "Given that it was uncertain we might not play at all, we are grateful to school for deciding to opt in and bring back sports to the campus.  We owe our success to this great institution, the trainers, our incredible administrators, Reggie Ellis and Lydia Ayala, who all worked tirelessly to get us back on the court during these difficult times.  Most of all, we owe this success to our great student-athletes who have practiced social distancing and mask wearing while refining their tennis skills on the court!"