Miles Seemann rallied to win his toughest men’s tennis match of the year on Friday and two SBCC teammates also won in the WSC Individual Tournament at Ventura College.
Seemann, the No. 4 seed, beat left-hander Paulo Fernandes of Ventura 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 in a Round of 16 match that lasted nearly 2½ hours.
Seemann advanced to the Southern Cal Regional on May 3-5 at Irvine Valley College, along with No. 3 seed Joshua Crisp-Jones and Sebastian Vestberg. Crisp-Jones, a freshman from England, downed Eder Giotto of Ventura 6-2, 6-3 while Vestberg swept Tyler Sperry of Ventura 6-3, 6-2.
SBCC’s Troy Akin fell to top-seeded Moises Cardenas of L.A. Pierce 6-2, 6-3.
The WSC Individual Tourney is stopped at the quarterfinal stage because eight singles and eight doubles (which were played last week) qualify for the regional.
Seemann, a freshman from Santa Ynez High, overcame a 3-2 deficit to capture the third set.
“He played a new game in the second set and he played smarter and tougher,” said Seemann, who’s 12-1 this season. “In the third set, I tried to stay consistent and waited for my opportunity to come to the net. The momentum came my way and I ended up breaking (winning on his opponent’s serve) to go up 5-3.
“I served and volleyed the last game and got it done.”
Seemann and Crisp-Jones qualified for the Regional in both singles and doubles. They’ll also play singles and as a doubles team in the prestigious Ojai Tournament, which starts on Thursday.
“I was extremely happy with the quality of tennis that we played today,” said coach Ryan Heinberg. “Miles had a tough match and Sebastian overcame a slow start (rallying from a 3-1 deficit in the first set). He figured out the guy’s weaknesses and brought his game to the level where it needed to be.
“Miles rose to the occasion after a long second set. He was really focused and played very well at the end.”
RESULTS:
Singles (SBCC results):
Round of 16 (winners move on to So Cal Regional) — Joshua Crisp-Jones (3) def. Eder Giotto, Ventura, 6-2, 6-3; Miles Seemann (4) def. Paulo Fernandes, VC, 6-0, 4-6, 6-4; Sebastian Vestberg def. Tyler Sperry, VC, 6-3, 6-2; Moises Cardenas (1), Pierce, def. Troy Akin 6-2, 6-3.
