Matias Leads Piraes on All-WSC Team

VC men's tennis sophomore Rafael Matias was named the Co-Most Valuable Player for the Western State Conference for the 2025 season, and was joined by four teammates earning first team All-WSC honors in singles. Yanis Guerrout, Haru Nakayama, Ariitea Cotti-Helme and Leo Pham joined Matias with first team singles awards. Additionally, two Pirate doubles pairs were named to the first team all-conference list.

Matias was 17-6 overall in singles play in 2025, including an 11-4 mark in dual matches for the Pirates. The sophomore from Sao Paula, Brazil advanced to the championship match of the WSC Tournament in earning Co-MVP and first team No. 1 singles accolades.

Meanwhile, Guerrout, a freshman from Montmorency, France earned first team All-WSC honors at No. 2 singles. He posted a 10-3 record in dual matches this season for Ventura. Nakayama was named first team all-conference in No. 4 singles. The Saitama, Japan first-year player was 8-5 on the year for Ventura in dual matches while Cotti-Helme posted an 11-3 record in dual play earning All-WSC honors at No. 5 singles. Also a freshman, he came to VC from Punaauia, Tahiti. A sophomore from Paris, France, Pham, was named all-conference in No. 6 singles after a 14-3 season in dual play.

In doubles, Matias and Guerrout were one of three duos who shared the first team All-WSC accolades in the No. 1 slot while Max Beaudry and Manolo Vanbesien earned first team honors in the No. 3 slot.

Ventura's Yusen Sato was named second team all-conference in No. 3 singles while Sato and Nakayama were named second team honors in No. 2 doubles.

Pirate head coach Nelson Emery wa name dthe WSC Coach of the Year for the fourth year in a row and the 15th time overall after leading Ventura to a 6-0 mark in conference play and the team's fourth straight WSC championship.