The Pirates' men's tennis team had a solid first day of the CCCAA State Championships at The Ojai Tournament Thursday. Playing at courts throughout the city of Oxnard, VC had two singles players and two doubles teams move on to the Round of 32 Friday. Bill Whitaker and Augustin Lestelle advanced in singles, while Damon Mitchell joined Lestelle and Cruz Thayne teamed up with Whitaker to move forward in doubles.
Whitaker, the No. 14-seed in the draw, had a first round bye before easily defeating an opponent from Moorpark, love and love, to move into the Round of 32. Lestelle, meanwhile, won his first round contest against an opponent from San Diego City, 6-2, 6-3 before moving to the Round of 32 with an upset win over the No. 3 seed from Solano, 6-3, 6-4.
Rodrigo Perdigao advanced to the Round of 64 with a one and love victory over an opponent from Palomar before falling to the No. 1 seed in the draw from American River College, 6-1, 6-4. Thayne had his singles season come to a quick end with a 6-1, 6-2 loss to a Cerritos opponent in the first round.
In doubles, No. 11-seed Thayne and Whitaker received a first round bye before crushing an opponent from Cabrillo, love and one, to move into the Round of 32. Lestelle and Mitchell defeated a team from Palomar, 6-1, 6-0 before handling the No. 9-seed from Cabrillo, 6-4, 7-6.
Perdigao and Hamilton Walker also took to the court in doubles Thursday, defeating a team from Orange Coast, 6-4, 6-0 before falling to the No. 2-seed from De Anza, 6-3, 6-4.
The Round of 32 begins Friday April 28 at courts around Oxnard, with weekend matches being played in Ojai.