Modesto Junior College Invitational Tournament
American River: 36
Folsom Lake College22
Solano: 17
In the most dominant performance at the Modesto Tournament in recent history, the Beavers won every flight, both singles and doubles, without dropping a set. In the #1 flight, Cody Duong cruised to the final where he matched up against Folsom Lake #1 Sean Alves. For the third time in two years Duong outlasted Alves after an extremely tight first set. Duong served for the first set at 6-5, but was broken by Alves. Duong went down 3-1 in the breaker, only to rip off 6 straight points to win the set, and 6 straight games in the 2nd set to seal the match. In the #2 draw Tam Duong dropped only 3 games all tournament, all to Folsom Lake #2 Shawn Morgan in the final. Mikey Vizcarra also lost only 3 games on his way to the championship, again to the FLC #3, Jeff Chale in his 6-1, 6-2 win. Eric De Romas lost a total of 4 games in his title run in the #4 flight. The #5 and #6 singles draws were slightly more competitive, but Pete Gibson (#5) and Andy Vang (#6) were able to pull through without dropping a set. In the quarterfinal Gibson was able to earn a golden set (winning all 24 points in the set).
The doubles was a similar story, as the Beavers tore through the draws. Cody and Tam Duong defeated the Solano tandem of Chris Hagler and JD Bobo in the final 6-3, 6-1. In the #2 doubles flight final the FLC team of Morgan and Alex Bychkoviak gave the Beaver #2 team of De Romas and Justin Barton a tough match, but ultimately the Beavers prevailed in straight sets 6-4, 6-4. And for the complete sweep, the #3 tandem of Vang and Neville Cooper dominated the #3 draw, losing just 4 games the whole tourney. Cooper was held out of the singles play due to a knee injury, but performed extremely well in the doubles competition.
The team victory for ARC at the MJC tourney was the 2nd in a row for the Beavers, and the most one-sided tournament victory in recent years. Perennial rivals Foothill, and Coast conference contender De Anza, were not at the MJC tournament so it will be exciting to see how the Beavers do when they play against the other two top teams in NorCal in dual team match-play later in the season. Next up for the Beavers will be a home match against Reedley College on Tuesday, February 14th.