The Fullerton College women’s tennis team knew coming into the season that they would have a target on their backs after winning last years California Community College Athletic Association State Championship.

Their first match did not go as expected and they dropped it, 6-3 to Mt. San Antonio College. Since then, they have won 11 matches in a row, including five straight wins the first time through Orange Empire Conference play.

“Orange Coast College and Riverside City College were both teams that challenged us,” said head coach Scott Giles. “When we meet them again, it will be a battle and we will need to win those pivotal borderline matches.”

Last year’s state runner up individual and state champion in doubles, Sarah Anderson, has returned for a second year and looks to go through and make another deep run. Along with freshman Sarah Edwards, she has been undefeated individually through conference play. They are also the number one doubles pairing and have not lost all year.

“The thing about tennis is that you can’t win with just one star player,” Giles said. “If Sarah wins her individual match and doubles, that is still only two points and it take five to win a match.”

Last year, Anderson won the doubles championship at state with Victoria Vo, and this year she looks to repeat with Edwards as her partner.

“They may be the best doubles team we have ever had around here,’ Giles said. “That says a lot considering last year, we had a team that won a state championship.”

Anderson was the runner up in singles last year and Giles looks at her as a serious contender to do it again.

Giles has been preaching to the team all year that greatness comes with practice.

“The thing that sets this team apart is how hard they work on the practice court,” Giles said. “They go in and work really hard at pratice and when they step on the court for the match it all comes together.”

The team’s next match is Tuesday, against Saddleback at 2 p.m.