Irvine Valley's Bellegy doubles up on titles at CCCAA Men's Tennis State Championships

Final Individual Results
Singles l Doubles 

WALNUT – Irvine Valley College sophomore Arthur Bellegy was a double-winner at the CCCAA Men's Tennis Individual State Championships Saturday, winning both the singles title and later with partner Kiichi Ishida took home the doubles crown at Mt. San Antonio College. 

Bellegy had wrapped up the singles title in straight sets earlier in the day and came back in the afternoon after a break, and partnered with Ishida for a second straight-set win of the day, this time in doubles. 

Both wins for Bellegy came against College of the Desert freshman Marco Alvarez, who teamed up with Raymundo Chavez in the doubles.

In the singles championship, it was number one versus number two, with top South seed Bellegy coming out the winner with a 6-1, 6-2 win.

The Frenchman, who is from Paris, dominated from the beginning and becomes the third champion from Irvine Valley since 2016.

Javier Callejo won back-to-back titles for IVC in 2016 and ’17.

Bellegy talked of his win over Alvarez in singles.

“It feels really good for me, actually,” said Bellegy, in his thick French accent, who has only been in America for three years. “It’s the first time (I’ve) won a title this big. 

“I used my forehand because I have a big forehand. I put some topspin on his backhand and made him run a lot. I tried to do my best to stay consistent the whole match.”

The excitable Alvarez was limited a bit with a slight foot injury.

Bellegy and Ishida opened the weekend with an easy first-round doubles win, 6-1, 6-0, but until Saturday’s final, they were taken to the limit in the quarterfinals and semifinals before advancing to the title match.

In the quarters, they opened with a 6-3 win over Solano’s doubles team of Connor Ard and Jackson Devries, but fell in the second, 5-7, before coming out in the third set with a 13-11 win.

The semis were the real test as the No. 1 North team of Micah Erwin and Ravi Nelson took IVC’s tandem to the limit in both sets, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-3).

Release by John Sherrard, CCCSIA/Mt. San Antonio College Athletics