VENTURA - (by Robin Hester, Ventura College Athletics) - The College of the Desert men's tennis team concluded another dominant season with a 5-0 sweep over American River in the CCCAA men's tennis state championship match Wednesday in Ventura. Joseph Corse and Nathan Caolie each won two points for the Roadrunners (18-1) as they won their 16th match without defeat against community college competition this season.

COD jumped out to the early edge in doubles play as Hernan Quiroz and Matthew Shaw raced to a 6-1 lead in the No. 2 slot over ARC's Lenny Lin and Patrick Wall. Meanwhile, Ian Rabtsevich and Caolie pushed the 'Runners ahead 6-2 in No. 3 doubles.

The Beavers' Nos. 2 and 3 duos showed some fight, however, each coming back to close their deficits to 6-4 and 6-5, respectively.

Ultimately, COD's pairs were too much for American River as Rabtsevich and Caolie recorded an 8-4 decision while Quiroz and Shaw quickly followed with an 8-5 win to put Desert ahead 2-0.

The No. 1 doubles match was closer early as Desert's Corse and Eita Ishikawa and American River's Ravi Nelson and Spencer Hill stayed on serve through the first eight games. Corse and Ishikawa broke the Beaver's serve at a most opportunistic time, taking a 6-4 victory to put COD ahead 3-0 headed to singles play.

"We got off to a good start and adjusted to the fast courts," said Desert head coach Guy Fritz. We played well in doubles to sweep. It wasn't easy."

"I knew we had a decided edge in singles," he said. "(But) we could have lost all three in doubles."

Corse began singles play with a 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 3 to put the Roadrunners on the verge of the title. Coalie quickly followed with a 6-2, 6-0 triumph as Desert's celebration began on Court 4.

ARC's Nelson led in No. 1 singles, 6-5 when the 'Runners clinched while Quiroz (6-2, 0-1, DNF), Matthew Shaw (6-3, 3-2, DNF) and Rabtsevich (6-3, DNF) led for COD in Nos. 2, 5 and 6, respectively when the championship was won.

"Every year is different," said Fritz, who has now directed the Roadrunners to nine state titles. " It was more of a struggle this year."

Struggle or not, however, the Roadrunners still were dominant in claiming the program's 17th state crown.

Ventura 1, Desert 6
Doubles
1. Corse/Ishikawa (COD) def. Nelson/Hill (ARC), 8-4
2. Quiroz/Shaw (COD) def. Lin/Patrick Wall (ARC), 8-5
3. Rabtsevich/Caolie (COD) def. Perdue/Bilbao (ARC), 8-4

Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1

Singles
1. Ravi Nelson (ARC) up vs. Eita Ishikawa (COD) 6-5, DNF
2. Hernan Quiroz (COD) up vs. Lenny Lin (ARC), 6-2, 0-1, DNF
3. Joseph Corse (COD) def. Parker Perdue (ARC), 6-2, 6-0
4. Nathan Caolie (COD) def. Spencer Hill (ARC), 6-2, 6-0
5. Matthew Shaw (COD) up vs. Shane Timmons (ARC), 6-3, 3-2, DNF
6. Ian Rabtsevich (COD) up vs. Julian Bilbao (ARC), 6-3, DNF

Order of Finish: 3, 4.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information, Photo & Story provided by CCCAA.