After taking a 2-1 lead in doubles action, the Pirates' men's tennis team was unable to outlast visiting Cerritos College on a warm Ventura day, falling to the Falcons 5-4 at the VC Tennis Center Friday. Hironori Koyanagi continued his perfect season for VC with a win in No. 1 singles and a win with Corey Karen in No. 1 doubles. Karen also won his No. 2 singles match for the Pirates (4-2, 3-0).
While Koyanagi and Karen accounted for three points for VC, the other score came in No. 3 doubles as Victor Ribeiro and Leonardo Santos won easily, 8-1. The Pirates lost four three-set matches in Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 6 singles which turned the match in favor of the Falcons in the closely contested match-up.
Ventura will next travel to Fresno on March 13 and 14 to participate in FCC's North/South Challenge, playing two matches each day. They resume Western State Conference play at Glendale on Tuesday March 17.
Ventura 4, Cerritos 5 - Friday 3-6-15
Doubles
1. Koyanagi/Karen (VC) def. Kagoma/Torrebella (CC) 8-4
2. Newman/Burr (VC) lost to Antoniuk/Lombardi (CC) 8-6
3. Ribeiro/ Leonardo Santos (VC) def. David/Milos Zoric (CC) 8-1
Singles
1. Hironori Koyanagi (VC) def. Amadi Kagoma (CC) 6-1, 6-3
2. Corey Karen (VC) def. Antonio Torrebella (CC) 3-6, 6-0, 10-6
3. Guenter Newman (VC) lost to Mark Antoniuk (CC) 6-7, 6-3, 10-8
4. Michael Burr (VC) lost to Agustin Lombardi (CC) 3-6, 6-0, 10-3
5. Victor Ribeiro (VC) lost to Henry Ayesiga (CC) 6-4, 7-6, 8-10
6. Florent Auteuil (VC) lost to Mathieu David (CC) 4-6, 6-1, 10-7
VC Season Record: 4-2 (3-0)