Dickson captures OEC singles title!
MISSION VIEJO -- Sophomore Hali Dickson proved to everyone why she was the No. 1 seed at last weekend's Orange Empire Conference women's tennis singles championships, sweeping her way through five matches at Saddleback College en route to the OEC title.
On Thursday, Dickson started things off with a convincing 6-1, 6-0 win over Saddleback's Maddie Skerlew in the Round of 32.
On Friday, Dickson advanced to the semifinals with back-to-back, straight-set victories. Her first win came in the Round of 16 against Cypress College's Shamine Singh, 6-2, 6-2, followed by a 6-1, 6-4 win over RCC's Shelia James in the conference quarterfinals.
In Saturday's semifinal matchup against Irvine Valley's Renee Walton, Dickson continued her dominant play and cruised to a 6-2, 6-3 win, setting up a finals' showdown against No. 3 seeded Annely Heinze of Riverside City College. Last year, both players competed deep into the state singles championships, with Dickson advancing to the Round of 16 and Heinze advancing to the quarterfinals.
It was a hard-fought contest throughout, but in the end, Dickson claimed the conference title with a 6-4, 7-6 (6) win.
Dickson, who advanced to the state doubles semifinals a year ago, should still have plenty of tennis to play as she competes at the California Community College Athletic Association women's tennis regional and state championships, held at the historic Ojai Tennis Tournament on April 23-26.
