The VC men's tennis team swept Los Angeles Pierce twice Thursday to clinch their third straight Western State Conference crown. The Pirates defeated the Brahmas 5-0 in the first match of the day, a make-up from Tuesday's rained-out contest, before defeating LAPC 9-0 in the second, a make-up from February 21. Hamilton Walker and Anthony Bovino each won matches love and love during the double-header.
Ventura 5, Los Angeles Pierce 0
Ventura clinched a tie for the conference crown with a 5-0 win in the day's first contest, a make-up from Tuesday's rain out in Woodland Hills. The Pirates did not need to get out of singles play, sweeping the Nos. 2 through 6 slots for the win. Walker won at No. 5 love and love while Cruz Thayne, Damon Mitchell and Florent Auteuil all posted 6-1, 6-0 victories at Nos. 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Sam Gazzera won at No. 6 singles, 6-0, 6-2.
Ventura 9, Los Angeles Pierce 0
The Pirates clinched the outright WSC crown, the program's 11th in the past 12 years and 15th in the last 21 seasons, with a 9-0 victory over LAPC. Bovino posted a love and love win at No. 6 singles while Mitchell and Auteuil won at Nos. 2 and 3 by identical 6-0, 6-1 scores. Walker won at No. 4, 6-0, 6-2. Thayne and Gazzera needed three sets for their triumphs at Nos. 1 and 5, respectively, Thayne winning 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 and Gazzera winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
In doubles play, Augustin Lestelle and Mitchell teamed up at No. 1 to win 8-2 and Gazzera and Bovino prevailed 8-3 at No. 2. Auteuil and Walker won at No. 3, 8-4.
The Pirates conclude conference play on Tuesday March 28 at Bakersfield.
Ventura 5, Los Angeles Pierce 0
Singles
1. Augustin Lestelle (VC) vs. Jonathan Barcohana (LAPC), 5-6, dnf
2. Cruz Thayne (VC) def. Sithiphon Chatos (LAPC), 6-1, 6-0
3. Damon Mitchell (VC) def. Oscar Olguin (LAPC), 6-1, 6-0
4. Florent Auteuil (VC) def. Sean Reid (LAPC), 6-1, 6-0
5. Hamilton Walker (VC) def. Rafael Abdullah (LAPC), 6-0, 6-0
6. Sam Gazzera (VC) def. Sowgal Sadeghi (LAPC), 6-0, 6-2
Ventura 9, Los Angeles Pierce 0
Singles
1. Cruz Thayne (VC) def. Jonathan Barcohana (LAPC), 6-3, 1-6, 7-5
2. Damon Mitchell (VC) def. Sithiphon Chatos (LAPC), 6-0, 6-1
3. Florent Auteuil (VC) def. Giovane Octaviano (LAPC), 6-0, 6-1
4. Hamilton Walker (VC) def. Oscar Olguin (LAPC), 6-0, 6-2
5. Sam Gazzera (VC) def. Sean Reid (LAPC), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
6. Anthony Bovino (VC) def. Rafael Abdullah (LAPC), 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
1. Augustin Lestelle/Mitchell (VC) def. Barcohana/Chatos (LAPC), 8-2
2. Gazzera/Bovino (VC) def. Reid/Octaviano (LAPC), 8-3
3. Auteuil/Walker (VC) def. Olguin/Abdullah (LAPC), 8-4