The Pirates' men's tennis team moved closer to their third straight Western State Conference championship with a 7-2 victory over visiting Santa Barbara City College Thursday. Rodrigo Perdigao, Damon Mitchell, Hamilton Walker and Sam Gazzera were all double winners for VC in the match against the Vaqueros. Ventura (8-1, 6-0) remained two games ahead of Glendale and Bakersfield in the conference race with three WSC matches remaining.
Perdigao won in No. 3 singles 6-1, 6-1 and teamed up with Walker in no. 3 doubles to win, as well, 8-1. Walker won his No. 5 singles match 6-2, 6-0. Mitchell and Gazzera won in Nos. 4 and 6 singles, respectively, 6-0, 6-2 and 6-2, 6-1 before pairing up to win in No. 2 doubles, 8-1. Bill Whitaker and Cruz Thayne earned a point in No. 1 doubles by default.
VC will host Cerritos on Friday March 10 at 12:00 pm at the VC Tennis Center.
Ventura 7, Santa Barbara 2
Singles
1. Bill Whitaker (VC) lost Emerson Sekban (SBCC), 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (3)
2. Cruz Thayne (VC) lost to Spencer Ekola (SBCC), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4)
3. Rodrigo Perdigao (VC) def. Diego Santos (SBCC), 6-1, 6-1
4. Damon Mitchell (VC) def. Stevie Acuna (SBCC), 6-0, 6-2
5. Hamilton Walker (VC) def. Jun Zhao (SBCC), 6-2, 6-0
6. Sam Gazzera (VC) def. Mark Morales (SBCC), 6-2, 6-1
Doubles
1. Bill Whitaker/Thayne (VC) def. Sekban/Ekola (SBCC), def.
2. Mitchell/Gazzera (VC) def. Santos/Acuna (SBCC), 8-1
3. Walker/Perdigao (VC) def. Zhao/Morales (SBCC), 8-1