Pirate Tennis Falls in Difficult Match At North/South Challenge

The Pirates' men's tennis team began the North/South Challenge in Fresno with a difficult 5-2 loss to American River College Friday afternoon. Manu Rowe and Rodrigo Perdigao won in No. 3 doubles and Cruz Thayne earned a point in No. 4 singles for VC's scoring on the day.

Ventura trailed 2-1 after the doubles competition with Rowe and Perdigao winning in the No. 3 slot 8-4. Augustin Lestelle and Damon Mitchell were narrowly defeated in the No. 2 spot 8-6.

In singles, Thayne won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3 to even the match, but American River, who is undefeated in dual matches this season, won in Nos. 2 and 3 singles to put the Pirates on the brink. Bil Whitaker won his first set in No. 1 singles, 6-3, but lost the second 6-3 to set up a third set tiebreker.  Whitaker fought valiantly but eventually fell 10-7, and Ventura was defeated.

Ventura (10-3, 7-0) wil resume play in the North/South Challenge in Fresno on Saturday March 18 against Foothill College at 10:00 am and against the host Rams in the afternoon.

Ventura 2, American River 5

Doubles
1. Whitaker/Thayne (VC) lost to C. Duong/T. Duong (ARC), 8-2
2. Lestelle/Mitchell (VC) lost to De Romas/Vang (ARC), 8-6
3. Rowe/Perdigao (VC) def. Justin Barton/Cooper (ARC), 8-4

Singles
1. Bill Whitaker (VC) lost to Cody Duong (ARC), 3-6, 6-3, 10-7
2. Augustin Lestelle (VC) lost to Tam Duong (ARC), 7-5, 6-1
3. Manu Rowe (VC) lost to Michael Vizcarra (ARC), 6-0, 6-3
4. Cruz Thayne (VC) def. Neville Cooper (ARC), 6-3, 6-3
5. Rodrigo Perdigao (VC) vs. Eric De Romas (ARC), dnf
6. Damon Mitchell (VC) vs. Andy Vang (ARC), dnf