A week late due to the recent rains, the Pirates' men's tennis team finally opened their 2017 season Tuesday, falling at Cypress College 8-1. Bill Whitaker and Cruz Thayne teamed up for VC's lone win on the day, 8-6 in No. 2 doubles.
Whitaker also played a tight match in No. 2 singles, falling 6-2, 2-6, 10-8 while Thayne dropped his No. 4 singles match 6-4, 6-4. The Pirates came into the mach ranked No. 4 in Southern California while the Chargers were a preseason No. 3.
VC opens Western State Conference play on Thursday Feb. 16 at Victor Valley.
Doubles
1. Lestelle/Auteuil (VC) lost to Blancaneaux/Reynaud (Cyp), 8-2
2. Whitaker/Thayne (VC) def. De Wilder/Remmerswaal (Cyp), 8-6
3. Rowe/Walker (VC) lost to Chen/Kyle (Cyp)
Singles
1. Augustin Lestelle (VC) lost to Maximilien Blancaneaux (Cyp), 6-1, 6-1
2. Bill Whitaker (VC) lost to Vincent Reynaud (Cyp), 6-2, 2-6, 10-8
3. Manu Rowe (VC) lost to Thomas Kyle (Cyp), 6-1, 6-0
4. Cruz Thayne (VC) lost to Yubo Chen (Cyp), 6-4, 6-4
5. Florent Auteuil (VC) lost to Petrus Botha (Cyp), 7-5, 6-0
6. Hamilton Walker (VC) lost to Gertjan De Wilder (Cyp), 6-4, 6-2