Men's Tennis Splits Matches at North/South Challenge

Following up their win over the previously undefeated American River, the Ventura College men's tennis team split a pair of matches on the final day of the North/South Challenge. In their opener the Pirates fell 5-4 to Foothill College. They responded later in the day with a 6-3 win over Fresno City College. Hironori Koyanagi was undefeated on the day in doubles and singles play.

Foothill 5 Ventura 4

Koyanagi teamed with Corey Karen at the No. 1 doubles slot and picked up a win 8-1 over Foothill. This was the only match the Pirates were able to win on the doubles side of play. They needed a strong showing in singles play to remain undefeated on the season.

Koyanagi and Karen were winners in straight sets as the No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively. Diego Rodrigues helped the Pirates sweep the top three contests in singles with a straight sets win at No. 3 singles, but this was the final contest the Pirates won on the singles side. It resulted in the Pirates first loss of the season.

Ventura 6 Fresno 3

Ventura used a new lineup for their second contest of the day which resulted in a pair of losses at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles, but rebounded in the No. 3 doubles slot with the team of Leonardo Santos and Victor Ribeiro picking up a 8-2 win. Down 2-1 again heading into the singles portion of the match VC was looking for a better showing to secure a win.

Koyanagi got VC off on the right foot with a win at No. 1 singles in three sets. Koyanagi dropped the first set of the match, but responded to win the next two sets to win the match. VC fell at No. 2 singles, but ran off wins in the next four contests to win the match 6-3.

With the win VC finished the North/South Challenge with two wins and one loss. On the season now Ventura is 12-1 overall and 7-0 in Western State Conference play.

Foothill 5 Ventura 4

Doubles:
1. Hironori Koyanagi/Corey Karen (VC) defeats Pissarenko/Holt (FC); 8-1
2. Leonardo Santos/Victor Ribeiro (VC) lost to Strabo/Rajanthiram (FC); 8-5
3. Diego Rodrigues/Hamilton Walker (VC) lost to Lam/Greeo (FC); 8-3

Singles
1. Koyanagi (VC) defeats Pissarenko (FC); 6-4, 6-4
2. Karen (VC) defeats Holt (FC); 6-2, 7-5
3. Rodrigues (VC) defeats Strabo (FC); 7-6, 6-1
4. Santos (VC) lost to Greeo (FC); 6-1, 6-0
5. Ribeiro (VC) lost to Rajanthiram (FC); 6-1, 6-1
6. Walker (VC) lost to Lam (FC) 6-4, 6-1

Ventura 6 Fresno 3

 Doubles:
1. Guenter Newman/Michael Burr (VC) lost to Arias/Nelson (FCC); 8-6
2. Evan Gazic/Rodrigues (VC) lost to Ancheta/Rae (FCC); 8-4
3. Santos/Ribeiro (VC) defeats Bami/Jizmejian (FCC); 8-2

Singles:
1. Koyanagi (VC) defeats Arias (FCC); 4-6, 6-3, 10-7
2. Newman (VC) lost to Rae (FCC); 6-3, 6-3
3. Gazic (VC) defeats Nelson (FCC); 6-0, 6-2
4. Burr (VC) defeats Ancheta (FCC); 6-1, 6-3
5. Ribeiro (VC) defeats Bami (FCC); 6-3, 6-2
6.  Santos (VC) defeats Jizmejian (FCC); 6-2, 6-0

Ventura 12-1 overall 7-0 conference