After a four-hour van ride and an afternoon scrimmage, SBCC battled San Diego Mesa to the wire before dropping a 5-4 decision on Thursday in its men’s tennis opener at San Diego.
The Vaqueros met Grossmont earlier Thursday, playing one set each in a scrimmage.
Nikolay Ivanov, Rob Herr and Luiz Melges posted singles wins for the Vaqueros, who went 2-3 in third-set tiebreakers. The tiebreaker format was the first one to 10 points with a two-point winning margin.
Regis Fastrez and Herr tied the match at 4-4 with a 6-1, 4-6, (11-9) victory over Stanislav Magarchento and Sean Moazezi at No. 2 doubles. San Diego Mesa prevailed with a 6-4, 6-0 triumph in No. 3 doubles.
“We battled really well for a young team in its first match,” said coach Ryan Heinberg. “I’m looking forward to watching these guys improve.”
The Vaqueros make their home debut on Feb. 22 against Mt. San Jacinto.
SAN DIEGO MESA 5, SBCC 4
Singles–Nikolay Ivanov, SBCC, def. Alex Nichols 6-4, 7-5; Stanislav Magarchento, SDM, def. Regis Fastrez 6-7, 6-3, (10-4); Rodrigo Santivanez, SDM, def. Simo El Azzouzi 7-5, 6-2; Sean Moazezi, SDM, def. John Rosenkvist 3-6, 6-1, (10-7); Rob Herr, SBCC, def. Jean Ellerback 6-4, 6-3; Luiz Melges, SBCC, def. Hung Truong 6-2, 4-6, (10-7). Doubles–Nichols-Santivanez, SDM, def. Ivanov-El Azzouzi 2-6, 6-2, (10-4); Fastrez-Herr, SBCC, def. Magarchento-Moazezi 6-1, 4-6, (11-9); Ellerback-Truong, SDM, def. Melges-Che Borja 6-4, 6-0.
