The VC men's tennis team defeated Glendale -3 Friday in Western State Conference play. Rafael Matias was a double winner for the Pirates in No. 2 doubles with Yanis Guerrout and in No. 1 singles. Meanwhile, Haru Nakayama won a three-set thriller in no. 4 singles to help propel Ventura to the triumph in the rematch from the 2024 SoCal Regional Final.
Matias and Guerrout won their No. 2 doubles match 8-4 and Max Beaudry and Manolo Vanbesien prevailed in No. 3 doubles 8-6. Yusen Sato and Nakayama narrowly lost in the No. 1 doubles slot, 9-7.
Matias claimed his No. 1 singles contest 6-4, 6-1 and Leo Pham won a comfortable 6-3, 6-1 decision in No. 6 singles. Ariitea Cotti-Helme fought to a 7-5, 6-4 win in No. 5 singles to clinch the match for VC and Nakayama added his exciting three-set victory, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4.
The Pirates will next face NCAA Division III Cal Tech on Saturday March 1 at the VC Tennis Center.
Ventura 6, Glendale 3
Doubles
1. Yusen Sato/Haru Nakayama (VC) lost to Adam Ridaoul/David Tinajero (GCC), 9-7
2. Rafael Matias/Yanis Guerrout (VC) def. Brodie Young-Smith/Ian Nicodemus (GCC), 8-4
3. Max Beaudry/Manolo Vanbesien (VC) def. Edouard Oganesian/George Lazenby (GCC), 8-6
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3
Singles
1. Matias (VC) def. Nicodemus (GCC), 6-4, 6-1
2. Sato (VC) lost to Ridaoul (GCC), 6-2, 6-1
3. Guerrout (VC) lost to Young-Smith (GCC), 7-6, 6-2
4. Nakayama (VC) def. Tinajero (GCC), 7-6, 4-6, 6-4
5. Ariitea Cotti-Helme (VC) def. Oganesian (GCC), 7-5, 6-4
6. Leo Pham (VC) def. Lazenby (GCC), 6-3, 6-1