VENTURA - (by Robin Hester, Ventura College Athletics) - In the men's doubles semifinals, the Ventura Pirates duo sophomore Jinsei Tajima (Nakayoma (JPN) Hokuriku) and sophomore Philemon Jabin (Brussels (BEL) Lycee Emile Jacqmaim) defeated the Riverside City Tigers sophomore twins from Veracruz, Mexico, Carlos and Rafael Rullan (Bachillerato en linea de veracruz) (6-3, 6-2) to put the host college in the state finals. The College of the Desert run continues as sophomore Eita Ishikawa (Yokkaichi (JPN) Technical) and freshman Joseph Corse (Murrieta DeCourcey Christian Academy) ended the chance for sophomore Kiichi Ishida (Marryatville, SA, AUS) from the Irvine Valley Lasers to become back-to-back doubles champion with a 6-4, 6-4 victory. The win for College of the Desert provides an opportunity to sweep all titles. Corse stated after the match on making both finals, "it feels amazing, I really honestly didn't expect it. It is one of the best feelings."

Joseph Corse entered the doubles finals having not lost a set and having his serve broken. Ventura College duo Tajima and Jabin ended that streak in the first set, which clinched the first set 6-4. At that point it seemed like the storybook ending would not come to fruition. However, Corse and Ishikawa battled back and broke Ventura two times to win the second set to force a 10-point tiebreaker.

In the tiebreaker, the teams were exchanging points with COD up 3-2 and then they started to pull away. They eventually went up 9-3 and the switch and the crowd got on their feet to witness a perfect season. Ventura was able to win one last point before officially dropping the match 4-6, 6-2, (10-4).

After the match, Ishikawa was overjoyed and stated, "the tournament started out disappointing since I was knocked out of singles in the quarterfinals, but ending the tournament with the doubles championship makes me leaving happy. I am happy for my teammate winning the singles and also being his partner to win the doubles. We got better as the season went on and it is great that we won."

Completing the sweep of all titles is something that just doesn't take the most talented player to achieve, but someone with great fitness and mental toughness, which Corse showed repeatedly. He said after the match, "it feels pretty great, I didn't expect this at all. I was trying to sweep, that is the point of the whole tournament, but it didn't register that I had a chance until yesterday that I was in the semifinals. It feels amazing." Corse explained his next steps in tennis and future plans, "I am going to play in some futures and travel to professional tournaments." There is no doubt that Corse left his mark on the 3C2A and Ojai and his name will forever be etched in the trophies and history books.

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Information, Photo & Story provided by CCCAA.