Tennis Opens Playoffs With Win Over Orange Coast

In the first round of the Southern California Regionals the Ventura College men's tennis team picked up a quick 5-0 win over Orange Coast. The Pirates were able to win all three matches in doubles play and then won the first two matches to finish in singles play to pick up the win. Hironori Koyanagi was a winner at No. 1 doubles and No. 1 singles.

With an opportunity to make a deep run in the Southern California Regionals the Pirates relied on their defending state champion in singles play Koyanagi to help carry them to the win. Koyanagi teamed with Corey Karen at No. 1 doubles for a 8-4 win. Ventura then claimed the No. 2 doubles and No. 3 doubles matches with scores of 8-3 and 8-4 respectively.

Based on their early 3-0 advantage the Pirates needed to win just two of the six singles matches to be contested to earn the win. Koyanagi set the tone with straight sets win at No. 1 singles 6-0, 6-4 and matched the strong showing by No. 5 singles player Evan Gazic who as well claimed a straight sets win 6-0, 6-2. Based on the quick work of the VC team the No. 2, 3, 4 and 6 singles matches were not completed as the Pirates earned enough team points to win the match. 

Ventura is now set for a rematch of a late season show down with Cerritos when they travel to Cerritos on Tuesday Apr. 12 for a 2:00 pm contest in round two of the Southern California Regionals. First up though is the completion of the Western State Conference Singles and Doubles tournament on Friday Apr. 8 at Ventura College.

Ventura 5 Orange Coast 

Doubles:
1. Hironori Koyanagi/Corey Karen (VC) def. Van Butselaar/Springer (OCC), 8-4
2. Guenter Newman/Michael Burr (VC) def. Duong/Palacio (OCC), 8-3
3. Leonardo Santos/Victor Ribeiro (VC) def. Tam/Shakas (OCC), 8-4

Singles:
1. Koyanagi (VC) def. Duong (OCC), 6-0, 6-4
2. Karen (VC) vs. Van Butselaar (OCC), 1-6, 4-5,DNF
3. Newman (VC) vs. Springer (OCC), 7-5, DNF
4. Diego Rodrgiues (VC) vs. Palacio (OCC), 6-3, 2-1, DNF
5. Evan Gazic (VC) def. Vu (OCC), 6-0, 6-2
6. Burr (VC) vs.  Tam (OCC), 6-1, 4-1, DNF

Ventura 15-2 overall 8-0 conference