The VC men's tennis team remained unbeaten in 2022 and advanced to the Southern California Regional finals with a 5-0 victory over San Diego City College Tuesday at the VC Tennis Center. The No. 2-seeded Pirates swept the doubles competition before Sam Ashbrook and Jinsei Tajima posted victories in singles play to clinch the match over the No. 4-seeded Knights.
Ventura took control early, as Tajima and Philemon Jabin made quick work of their opponents in the No. 3 doubles match 8-2. Ashbrook and Brodie Sodersten quickly followed with an 8-2 win in No. 1 doubles before Ryan Lam and Yuya Koide posted the win in No. 2 doubles, 8-5.
The Pirates won the first set in Nos. 3-6 singles to move closer to clinching the victory. Ashbrook was the first to earn a singles point with a 6-0, 6-1 win in the No. 4 slot before Tajima posted a 6-1, 6-1 triumph in No. 5 singles to clinch the win. Santino Serralonga was ahead 6-0, 5-4 in No. 6 singles when play was suspended and Yuya Koide led 6-1, 3-2 in No. 3 singles.
The win sets up a match up between the two top teams in California when No. 2 VC (18-0) travels to No. 1 Desert (16-0) on Saturday April 14. The winner of the match in Palm Desert will advance to the CCCAA State Team Championship on Saturday April 23 in Bakersfield.
Ventura 5, San Diego City 0
Doubles
1. Sodersten/Ashbrook (VC) def. Suver /Speshilov (SDCC) 8-2
2. Koide / Ryan Lam (VC) def. Robles/Castillo (SDCC) 8-5
3. Jabin/Tajima (VC) def. Espinoza Castro/Castaneda (SDCC) 8-2
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles
1. Philemon Jabin (VC) vs. Nik Speshilov (SDCC) 2-6, 1-2, DNF
2. Brodie Sodersten (VC) vs. Andrew Robert Suver (SDCC) 2-6, 1-1, DNF
3. Yuya Koide (VC) vs. Brian Espinoza Castro (SDCC) 6-1, 3-2, DNF
4. Sam Ashbrook (VC)def. Carlos Robles (SDCC) 6-0, 6-1
5. Jinsei Tajima (VC) def. Eduardo Castillo (SDCC) 6-1, 6-1
6. Santino Serralonga (VC) vs. Sebastian Castaneda (SDCC) 6-0, 5-4, DNF
Order of Finish: 4, 5
See CCCAA Men's Tennis Playoff Bracket