First-place Ventura downs Vaqueros 7-2

Emerson Sekban took the No. 1 singles 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (2), giving him six wins in his last eight matches. (Photo by Ken Sciallo / Sevilla Photography)
Emerson Sekban took the No. 1 singles 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (2), giving him six wins in his last eight matches. (Photo by Ken Sciallo / Sevilla Photography)

SBCC won the first two singles points on Thursday but Ventura won the rest in a 7-2 men's tennis victory on the Pirates' courts.

Emerson Sekban, a sophomore from England, outlasted Bill Whitaker 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (2) at No. 1 singles. Spencer Ekola, a freshman from Santa Barbara High, beat Cruz Thayne 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4).

The Vaqueros fell to 5-7 and 3-4 in WSC action. The first-place Pirates (8-1, 6-0) won for the eighth straight time.

The Vaqueros will host Cerritos (12-1) on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Singles
1. Emerson Sekban, SBCC, def. Bill Whitaker 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (2)
2. Spencer Ekola, SBCC, def. Cruz Thayne 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4)
3. Rodrigo Perdigao, VC, def. Diego Santos 6-1, 6-1
4. Damon Mitchell, VC, def. Stevie Acuna 6-0, 6-2
5. Hamilton Walker, VC, def. Jun Zhao 6-2, 6-0
6. Sam Gazerra, VC, def. Mark Morales 6-2, 6-1

Doubles
1. Whitaker/Thayne, VC, def. Sekban/Ekola, retired
2. Mitchell/Gazerra, VC, def. Santos/Acuna 8-1
3. Perdigao/Walker, VC, def. Zhao/Morales 8-1