VC freshman Mariko Sagara reached elite status Friday with a pair of wins in the CCCAA State Championships at The Ojai Tournament. With the two victories, the draw's No. 3-seed advanced to the Elite Eight round, with the quarterfinals scheduled for Saturday Apr. 23 at The Ojai Athletic Club.
Sagara began the day with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over an unseeded opponent from College of the Desert. She then defeated the No. 7-seed from Cosumnes River College to move on to the quarterfinals. The rounds of eight and four will both be played Saturday morning at the Ojai Athletic Club, at 8:00 am and 11:00 am, respectively.
In doubles play, Sagara and partner Jessica Powell, seeded No. 13, fell to the No. 4 seed from De Anza College, 6-3; 4-6; 10-6, in the round of 32 in play at the VC Tennis Center.