The Ventura College men's tennis team is hitting the home stretch in sprint, defeating visiting San Diego Mesa 8-1 Friday afternoon at the VC Tennis Center. Cruz Thayne led the 3-Peat Western State Conference champions with a one and love victory at No. 3 singles and Damon Mitchell was victorious two and love in the No. 5 singles position.
Playing a playoff format with doubles first, Ventura (15-4, 10-0) swept the competition. Bill Whitaker and Thayne prevailed in the No. 1 spot 8-4 while Augustin Lestelle and Mitchell triumphed at No. 2, 8-2. Rodrigo Perdigao and Hamilton Walker won at No. 3 8-1 to complete the sweep.
Lestelle won at the No. 2 singles slot, 6-1, 6-3 and Perdigao won at No. 4, 6-4, 6-2. Florent Auteuil earned the Pirates' other point with a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 6.
The Pirates will close the regular season hosting De Anza College on Saturday April 1 at 12:00 pm at the VC Tennis Center. The WSC singles and doubles championships begin on Friday April 7 at VC and the men's dual playoffs begin on Tuesday April 11.
Ventura 8, San Diego Mesa 1
Doubles
1. Whitaker/Thayne(VC) def. Barrere/Shaw (SMDC), 8-4
2. Lestelle/Mitchell (VC) def. Sorman/Geaney (SDMC), 8-2
3. Perdigao/Hamilton Walker (VC) def. Aguire/Lee (SDMC), 8-1
Singles
1. Bill Whitaker(VC) lost to Kimo Barrere (SDMC), 6-2, 6-2
2. Augustin Lestelle (VC) def. Tristen Shaw (SDMC), 6-1, 6-3
3. Cruz Thayne (VC) def. Joel Sorman (SDMC), 6-1, 6-0
4. Rodrigo Perdigao (VC) def. Thomas Geaney (SDMC), 6-4, 6-2
5. Damon Mitchell (VC) def. Federico Aguire (SDMC), 6-0, 6-2
6. Florent Auteuil (VC) def. Jordan Lee (SDMC), 6-2, 6-1