The Pirates' men's tennis team dominated the first day of the Western State Conference Championships with six players advancing to the round of 16 and four doubles teams moving on to the quarterfinals. In singles, top-seed Solal Cherqui, No. 6-seed Priyank Soni, No. 7-seed Adrien Etiemble and No. 10-seed Augustin Lestelle all advanced to the round of 16 without dropping a game. Meanwhile, in doubles, No. 1-seed Soni and Etiemble moved to the quarters without playing a match and No. 3-seed Cherqui and Rafael Dunan advanced with a shutout.
In singles play, Cherqui defeated his opponent from LA Pierce love and love, while Soni also defeated a player from LA Pierce 6-0, 6-0. Etiemble shut out his opponent from Santa Barbara, and Lestelle prevailed against an opponent from Glendale, 6-0, 6-0. No. 12-seed Dunan defeated his opponent from Santa Barbara 6-1, 6-4, while No. 16-seed Rodrigo Perdigao moved past an opponent from Bakersfield, 6-4, 6-0. Alexander Martin received a first round bye before falling to the No. 8-seed from Glendale, 6-4, 6-4, and Manu Rowe won his first match 8-0 before falling to the No. 3-seed from Santa Barbara, 6-0, 6-3.
In the doubles draw, top-seed Soni and Etiemble moved into the quarterfinals by default when both of their possible opponents chose not to play. Meanwhile, No. 3 Cherqui and Dunan easily advanced against a duo from LA Pierce, 8-0. No. 7-seed Martin and Jakob Rinschen moved past an opponent from Santa Barbara, 8-4, and unseeded Perdigao and Lestelle upset the No. 5-seed from Glendale, 8-3.
The WSC Championships continue Saturday April 7 at he VC Tennis Center before concluding on Friday April 13.
See Updated 2018 WSC Tennis Championships Men's Singles Bracket
See Updated 2018 WSC Tennis Championships Men's Doubles Bracket