Leading 2-1 after the doubles competition, the No. 5 seed Ventura College men's tennis team was unable to hold on at No. 3 San Diego Mesa Tuesday afternoon in the first round of the CCCAA Southern California Regionals. Hironori Koyanagi easily won his No. 1 singles match, and VC was up a set in four other singles matches, but the Olympians came back for the win to advance.
Koyanagi and Corey Karen won in No. 1 doubles, 8-2, and Leonardo Santos and Victor Ribeiro prevailed in the No. 3 slot to give VC the early edge. Koyanagi's 6-2, 6-2 win in No. 1 singles put the Pirates ahead 3-1, but Mesa was able to score the final and decisive four points of the match.
Ventura ends the dual season at 10-4, but regained their place atop the Western State Conference for the ninth time in the past 10 years, the 12th title in the 15 seasons.
The Pirate season will continue, however, as Koyanagi and Karen will square off in the Western State Conference singles finals on Friday April 10 at the VC Tennis Center. Additionally, Koyanagi and Karen will be partners in one doubles semifinal, and Michael Burr and Guenter Newman will appear on the other semifinal. The doubles final will also take place on Friday.
Additionally, six team members have qualified for the CCCAA State Championships in singles, and four duos have qualified in doubles. The championships will be held at The Ojai tournament beginning April 22.
Ventura 3, San Diego Mesa 5 - Tuesday 4-7-15
Doubles
1. Koyanagi/Karen (VC) def. Bedin/Luck (SDMC) 8-2
2. Burr/Newman (VC) lost to Barrere/Haener (SDMC) 8-4
3. Ribeiro/Santos (VC) def. Wheeler/Stanivukovich (SDMC) 8-2
Singles
1. Hironori Koyanagi (VC) def. Kilmo Barrere (SDMC) 6-2, 6-2
2. Corey Karen (VC) vs. Corentin Haener (SDMC) 6-2, 3-6, 2-4, DNF
3. Michael Burr (VC) lost to Scott Wheeler (SDMC) 2-6, 6-1, 6-1
4. Leonardo Santos (VC) lost to Filippo Bedin (SDMC) 3-6, 6-1, 6-3
5. Victor Ribeiro (VC) lost to Tyler Luck (SDMC) 6-3, 6-3
6. Ricardo Martin (VC) lost to Luka Stanivukovich (SDMC) 6-0, 2-6, 6-0
VC Season Record: 10-4 (6-0)