Colling reaches singles state finals; named Freshman Player of the Year
OJAI -- It was a freshman year for the ages for Orange Coast College women's tennis standout Clarisa Colling, who reached the singles finals of the California Community College Athletic Association Women's Tennis State Championships before falling to San Diego Mesa's Danielle Garrido, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2, last weekend.
Despite the setback for Colling, she was named the International Tennis Association (ITA) Freshman Player of the Year after finishing 20-2 in singles play, with her only two losses coming to Garrido.
In the opening set, Garrido raced out to a 3-0 lead in the opening set before Colling answered back to take a 5-4 advantage after breaking the Olympians' serve.
However, Garrido broke back and forced a 6-6 tiebreaker. Colling led the race-to-seven, 5-3, before Garrido fought back to win three straight points and take a 6-5 lead.
After fighting off a Garrido set point, the third-seeded Colling grabbed a 7-6 lead before the eventual champion ripped off three straight points to claim the first set. "That first set was the best women's tennis set I'd seen all year," OCC head coach Chris Ketcham said. "That set lasted about an hour and a half and it was a battle to the end."
In the second set, Garrido kept grinding and kept the foot on the gas pedal to claim the state title and finish her season a perfect 21-0.
In doubles play, Colling and teammate Karen Trinh were the top seed heading into state tournament play, but they were upset in the third round by Glendale College's Veronika Galstyan and Tsukimi Ono, 6-2, 7-5. The OCC duo wrapped up an incredible season with a record of 16-1.
