The Pirates' men's tennis team blanked visiting Victor Valley 9-0 on Thursday, moving their magic number to one to clinch their third straight Western State Conference championship. Florent Auteuil and Sam Gazzera both did not lose a game on the day, winning love and love in Nos. 4 and 6 singles, respectively, and winning 8-0 together in No. 3 doubles.
Cruz Thayne won in No. 1 singles, 6-1, 6-0, and teamed up with Bill Whitaker to take No. 1 doubles, 8-2. Rodrigo Perdigao prevailed in No. 2 singles, 6-1, 6-0. Damon Mitchell and Hamilton Walker were winners in Nos. 3 and 5 singles, 6-0, 6-1, and love and love, respectively, and teamed up to win in No. 2 doubles, 8-1.
With the win, VC remains two games ahead of second place Glendale in the conference race with three WSC matches remaining in the season.
Ventura (10-2, 7-0) heads to Fresno on Friday and Saturday March 17 and 18 for the annual North/South Challenge. They begin with Foothill on Friday before taking on American River and the host Rams on Saturday.
Ventura 9, Victor Valley 0
Singles
1. Cruz Thayne (VC) def. Sean Elliot (VVC), 6-1, 6-0
2. Rodrigo Perdigao (VC) def. Adam Kashan (VVC), 6-1, 6-0
3. Damon Mitchell (VC) def. Chris Pena (VVC), 6-0, 6-1
4. Florent Auteuil (VC) def. Gerald Sescio (VVC) 6-0, 6-0
5. Hamilton Walker (VC) def. Patrick Maraini (VVC), 6-0, 6-0
6. Sam Gazzera (VC) def. Chris Fuentes (VVC), 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
1. Bill Whitaker/Thayne (VC) def. Elliot/Kashan (VVC), 8-2
2. Mitchell/Walker (VC) def. Pena/Sescio (VVC), 8-1
3. Auteuil/Gazzera (VC) def. Mariani/Fuentes (VVC), 8-0