The Pirates' women's tennis team opened their Western State Conference schedule Thursday with a 5-4 victory at Santa Barbara. VC's second straight narrow triumph was capped with four victories in singles play as they overcame a 2-1 deficit from doubles. Sophomore Bella Moga clinched the win in the final match of the day in No. 3 singles.
Ventura (2-0, 1-0) fell behind early, dropping the Nos. 1 and 2 doubles matches. Santa Barbara could not field a No. 3 doubles pair, however, so the Pirates earned a point by default and trailed 2-1 entering singles play.
The Pirates also won by default in No. 6 singles to even the match before the Vaqueros went back ahead with a win at No. 2 singles. Chrystelle Aguiar then posted a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 5 singles to tie the match up at 3-3. Bella DeRosa won her No. 4 singles match 6-4, 6-2 to put Ventura ahead before SBCC tied thing back up with a victory at No. 1. Moga then answered the call with a hard-fought 7-6, 6-4 triumph at No. 3 singles to swing the victory to the Pirates.
Ventura next travels to Mt. San Antonio College on Friday Feb. 9 for a non-conference match-up with the Mounties.
Ventura 5, Santa Barbara 4
Doubles
1. Nicole Iannacone/Alexis Schmidt (VC) lost to Carmen Tzab/Kate Zeile (SBCC), 8-1
2. Bella DeRosa/Bella Moga (VC) lost to Sierra Bolanos/Nicole O'Malley (SBCC), 8-4
3. Chrystelle Aguiar/Beryllyn Paz (VC) def. (SBCC), default
Singles
1. Schmidt (VC) lost to Tzab (SBCC), 6-3, 7-5
2. Iannacone (VC) lost to Zelle (SBCC), 6-3, 6-1
3. Moga (VC) def. Bolanos (SBCC), 7-6, 6-4
4. DeRosa (VC) def. O'Malley (SBCC), 6-4, 6-2
5. Aguiar (VC) def. Anna Kronberg (SBCC), 6-3, 6-2
6. Paz (VC) def. (SBCC), default
Order of Finish: 6, 2, 5, 4, 1, 3