The VC men's tennis team dropped a close 6-3 decision to NCAA Division III Occidental COllege Friday in Eagle Rock. Leo Pham was a double-winner against the Tigers taking No. 3 doubles with Manolo Vanbesien and capturing the No. 6 singles match in straight sets. Rafael Matias also earned a point for VC in No. 1 singles.
Pham and Vanbesien gave Ventura the early lead with their 6-3 win on the No. 3 doubles court. Yusen Sato and Haru Nakayama dropped No. 2 doubles 6-4 before Matias and Yanis Guerrout dropped a close 7-5 decision in the No. 1 doubles contest.
In singles play, Guerrout retired in the first set ahead 5-4, giving Oxy a 3-1 lead before Matias posted his 6-4, 6-3 triumph on Court 1. Pham prevailed in No. 6 singles, 6-4, 6-3 to keep the Pirates alive, but a pair of three-set losses in Nos. 4 and 5 singles, respectively, pushed VC to defeat.
Ventura, champions of the Western State Conference for the fourth straight season, will complete its regular-season WSC schedule on Thursday Mar. 13 at home against Santa Barbara. Play is set to begin at 2:00 pm at the VC Tennis Center.
Ventura 3, Occidental 6
Doubles
1. Rafael Matias/Yanis Guerrout (VC) lost to Ronald Chen/Brett Miller (OC), 7-5
2. Yusen Sato/Haru Nakayama (VC) def. Dhruv Verma/Ace Andres (OC), 6-4
3. Leo Pham/Manolo Vanbesien (VC) def. Mason Hart/Jack Yurich (OC), 6-3
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1
Singles
1. Matias (VC) def. Chen (OC), 6-4, 6-3
2. Sato (VC) lost to Andres (OC), 6-2, 6-3
3. Guerrout (VC) lost to Miller (OC), up 5-4, ret.
4. Nakayama (VC) lost to Yurich (OC), 6-7 (9-7), 6-2, 6-3
5. Ariitea Cotti-Helme (VC) lost to Josiah Mones (OC), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
6. Pham (VC) def. Dennis Isak (OC), 6-4, 6-3
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2, 6, 4, 5