BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Santa Barbara City College men's tennis team earned its first Western State Conference North victory of the season, defeating Bakersfield College 8-1 on the road.
SBCC set the tone early with strong doubles play, led by the No. 3 team of Rodrigo Arenas and Anton Dahlen. The duo came out aggressively, building a commanding 5-0 lead before their Renegade opponents were forced to retire due to injury.
The Vaqueros' No. 2 team, Ada Guler and Loris Alem, battled through a slow start but ultimately fell 9-7. Meanwhile, SBCC's No. 1 doubles pairing of Mauritz Seitz and Ludi Chan secured a crucial 9-7 victory.
"The 15th game was pivotal as Ludi put down some critical returns and Mauritz created a lot of disruption at the net," said head coach Danny Echt. "The Vaqs team broke serve, and Mauritz closed out the match with his powerful serve. Mauritz and Ludi communicate well and are beginning to gel together."
The Vaqueros dominated in singles play, sweeping all six matches. At the No. 1 spot, Seitz overcame a tough challenge from Axl Gonzaga, pulling out a 7-5, 4-6, 10-3 win.
"Mauritz had to adapt to a tricky opponent who relentlessly attacked the net on his serve and then slowed the pace during backcourt points," Echt said. "Gonzaga was effective with his serve-and-volley play and hit some beautiful shots on low returns by the Vaquero No. 1. But Mauritz stayed calm, adjusted his return positioning, and eventually wore his opponent down."
Rodrigo Arenas delivered a standout performance, winning his singles match 6-2, 6-2 while showcasing his strong ground game and confidence.
"Today's match was unique in a lot of ways," Arenas said. "First and most important, it was our first win of the season, which puts us in a better position for the playoffs and strengthens us mentally as a group. Our chemistry was the key factor in this victory—supporting each other at every moment prevented anyone from breaking down.
"Personally, I played one of the best matches of my life, making smart decisions and playing the way I wanted. My mentality has been shaped throughout the season, and today, I showed the mindset I should carry into every match. I'm proud to recognize that.
"Overall, I believe we will succeed not only in tennis but in every aspect of life. I see positive changes in my teammates, which reflect their improvement on and off the court. Each of us has individual goals, and the environment we've created will guide us toward success."
The Vaqueros (1-4 overall, 1-2 WSC) look to build on their momentum in their next match. They were scheduled to host Glendale on Thursday but that was postponed due to weather. The next scheduled match is on Tuesday when they host Orange Coast.
