Vaqs begin with a rout
GLENDALE — Some coaches might have reservations when they are forced to feature a brand-new lineup.
Not so for Glendale Community College men’s tennis Coach Bob MacKay.
Coming into Thursday afternoon’s season opener against Mount San Antonio College, MacKay had confidence that his lineup would shine.
“We have a lineup that’s capable of winning every point and they put things together,” MacKay said after the host Vaqueros rolled to a 9-0 nonconference win against Mount San Antonio (0-1). “First, the key is to get to five points so you have the win.
“I’m satisfied because you can’t start off any better. With the guys we have, for us to get beat, we are going to have to be beat by a better team.”
With a group of spectators on hand, the Vaqueros lost one set.
Glendale saw No. 1 singles player Alex Sarkissian not lose a game and No. 2 singles player Trevor Campbell, a Burroughs High graduate, lose just one game. The Vaqueros got a 6-2, 6-4 victory from Stephan Mamann, in addition to a 6-4, 6-3 victory by La Cañada graduate Grayson Frazier. Hoover graduate Andre Ratavousian earned a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 win for the Vaqueros, who received a 6-0, 6-1 win from Crescenta Valley graduate Dro Mahmoudi.
In doubles competition, Sarkissian and Campbell teamed up for an 8-1 victory. Frazier worked with Glendale High graduate Mike Astorian for an 8-6 win and Mamann and Crescenta Valley graduate Eric Khanlarian paired up for an 8-2 victory.
“It was the same thing in doubles, where we battled against some good players,” said MacKay, whose team finished 6-11 overall and 3-5 in the Western State Conference last season. “Alex and Trevor are big lifts for us and they got us some key points early.”
The Vaqueros will next compete in a nonconference road match against Mount San Jacinto College at 2 p.m. Thursday.
