The Ventura College men's tennis team played their long-awaited 2021 season opener at Westmont College in Montecito on Saturday, falling 6-3 to the NAIA 4-year school. Yuya Koide won his No. 1 singles match to headline the Pirate competitors on the day.
The Pirates fell into a hole early, dropping all three of their doubles matches. Koide and Ethan Wang dropped their No. 2 match 6-4 while Brodie Sodersten and Regnar Madarang dropped the No. 1 doubles match 6-3.
In singles, Ryan Lam got VC on the board with a 6-4, 6-2 victory in the No. 4 slot and Koide won in three sets 6-0, 1-6, 6-0 at No. 1. Eduardo Gorgonio Criscuolo claimed VC's third point with a 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 win at No. 5. Bledar Gashi was solid at No. 6 in his 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 setback and Soderson competed at No. 2, falling 6-5, 6-4.
Ventura will continue their tour of 4-year schools on Thursday April 15 at Azusa Pacific University with a 2:30 pm start time.
Ventura 3, Westmont 6
Doubles
1. Soderson/Madarang (VC) lost to Ha/Thompson (WC), 6-3
2. Koide/Ethan Wang (VC) lost to Hein/Alleman (WC), 6-4
3. Lam/Criscuolo (VC) lost to Saito/Vethan (SDCC), 6-1
Singles
1. Yuya Koide (VC) def. Ethan Ha (WC), 6-0, 1-6, 6-0
2. Brodie Sodersten (VC) lost to Logan Thompson (WC), 6-5, 6-4
3. Regnar Madarang (VC) lost to Callen Hein (WC), 6-2, 6-2
4. Ryan Lam (VC) def. Matt Alleman (WC), 6-4, 6-2
5. Eduardo Gorgonio Criscuolo (VC) def. Benjamin Saito (WC), 6-2, 4-6, 7-6
6. Bledar Gashi (VC) lost to Sebastian Vethan (WC), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4