ARC-5                                    SRJC-4

Conference: 5-0               Overall: 7-0

The top two teams in the Big 8 North did battle on the courts at ARC, as the Bear Cubs from Santa Rosa Junior College visited the Beavers. It was a beautiful day on the courts and there was a palpable energy running through the players and fans. The doubles matches started off very competitive, close, and with both teams exuding great amounts of emotion. At #2 (TJ Aukland/Ryan Wilson) and #3 (Nic Atkinson/John Foote) the Beavers pulled away to secure comfortable victories, 8-4 and 8-5 respectively. At #1 doubles Seppi Capaul/Jimmy Giovannini went down an early break to the tough team of Landon Browne/Jonathon Pike. In an incredibly exciting comeback, the Beavers broke Browne as he served for the match at 7-6, and eventually the match went to a tiebreak. In the tiebreak the Bear Cubs were too tough, coming up with some incredible reflex volleys and clutch serving. The beavers went down in the tiebreak 7-5, but not before providing some energy and motivation to the Beavers heading in to singles. ARC needed 3 singles victories to clinch the dual team match and it looked promising, with 5 of the 6 first sets going to ARC players. The tide turned in 2 of the matches, as Dylan King (#4) and Wilson (#6) were unable to close out their matches. Fortunately for the Beavers Capaul (#1) and Foote (#5) won handily and it came down to the #2 singles match between Giovannini (ARC) and Browne (SRJC). Both sets were close and the momentum shifted frequently, but Giovannini was able to close out the match, serving 5-3 in the 2nd set to earn the dual team match for the ARC. It was a very competitive match between the 2 rivals and it sets up what should be a great sequel when the Beavers travel to Santa Rosa on Tue, Mar 17th.