In a battle of two of the top teams in Southern California, Irvine Valley fell at Cerritos, 5-4, on Thursday afternoon.
The two schools have a history of battling each other in the Southern California Regional Team Playoffs, and this was the second straight 5-4 decision between the schools.
It was the first loss of the season for Irvine Valley, which fell to 2-1 overall. Cerritos improved to 2-1.
From the outset, the match had the makings of a marathon day that could be seen as a post-season matchup.
In doubles action, both teams recorded 8-5 wins, with the No. 1 doubles match needing three more points to decide a winner.
Irvine Valley led 2-1 after doubles competition.
Irvine Valley's No. 3 doubles team of freshman Victor Chaix and sophomore Mateo Maya came through with a 8-5 victory and the top team of sophomore Julian Lafond and freshman Luis Moros won, 9-7. In the top spot.
But Cerritos captured four of the six singles contests to pull out the victory.
In singles, Irvine Valley won at the third and fourth spots. Moros defeated Bonsergent, 6-4, 6-3, and then Chaix beat Stevan Quintantar, 6-0, 6-0.
The match came down to the No. 6 singles match, as freshman Michael Doria dropped the first set to Irvine Valley sophomore William Li, 6-3.
But Doria fought back to win the second set, 6-3 and clinched the win with a 7-5 win in the tie-breaker set.
Irvine Valley is back in action on Tuesday when it hosts four-year Hope International at 2 p.m.
Singles
1. Arthur Bellegy (CERR) def. Julian Lafond (IVC), 6-0, 6-0
2. Saar Rogovski (CERR) def. Akshay Harishankar (IVC), 6-0, 6-3
3. Luis Moros (IVC) def. Victor Bonsergent (CERR), 6-4, 6-3
4. Victor Chaix (IVC) def. Stevan Quintantar (CERR), 6-0, 6-0
5. Vincent Pascaud (CERR) def. Hugo Redelinger (IVC), 7-5, 6-2
6. Michael Doria (CERR) def. William Li (IVC), 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
Doubles
1. Lafond/Moros (IVC) def. Bellegy/Bonsergent (CERR), 9-7
2. Rogovski/Doria (CERR) def. Jacob Holiday/Leonardo Oliveira (IVC), 8-5
3. Chaix/Mateo Maya (IVC) def. Pascaud/Luke Andrews (CERR), 8-5
