Vaqueros are no match for powerful Pirates

GLENDALE — Glendale Community College men’s tennis Coach Bob MacKay doesn’t need any further convincing about Ventura.

For the second time this season, MacKay came away impressed with the Pirates.

“Nobody is going to beat them,” MacKay said after host Glendale suffered a 7-2 Western State Conference loss against Ventura on Thursday afternoon. “They are so solid and you can go from their Nos. 3-6 in singles and they have extra guys who are strong.

Ventura (7-0 in conference) swept the two head-to-head meetings against Glendale (8-8, 4-3 in conference). Ventura, which has won the last two conference championships, picked up a 6-3 home win against the Vaqueros on March 8.

The Vaqueros got a singles win from Alex Sarkissian and a doubles victories from Sarkissian and Trevor Campbell on Thursday. Sarkissian won, 6-1, 6-1, to improve to 16-0 in singles. He is 32-0 in singles sets.

Sarkissian and Campbell teamed up for an 8-2 doubles win. The duo is 13-2 in doubles.

“We can match Ventura in some areas with Alex and Trevor,” MacKay said. “We went out there and played as good as we could.

“Ventura is strong at the bottom of their lineup and they are going to be tough to be at state.”

In singles, Campbell fell, 1-6, 6-1, 6-1. Stephan Mamann lost, 6-0, 7-5, for Glendale. Also falling for the Vaqueros were Grayson Frazier (6-1, 6-3) and Andre Ratavousian (6-2, retired).

Mike Astorian and Frazier and Eric Khanlarian and Mamann each lost their doubles sets, 8-1.

“The big thing is for us to try to finish second in conference,” MacKay said. “We’ve got Bakersfield next Thursday, so we get a week off with some guys now able to recover from injuries.

“I’m not disappointed with the team.”