Vaqs duo in state semis
GLENDALE — Alex Sarkissian and Trevor Campbell have extended their seasons for as long as they can possibly go.
Sarkissian continued to dazzle in singles before teaming up with Campbell, achieving equally impressive results, as Glendale Community College will be represented in both the singles and doubles semifinals of the California Community College Athletic Assn. State Tennis Championships at the Sierra Sport and Racquet Club in Fresno.
“This is what you play for all year, to get to state,” GCC men’s Coach Bob MacKay said.
Sarkissian continued his mind-spinning tour de force, improving to 33-0 on the year and 66-0 in sets, as he defeated Foothill’s Ramon Martinez, 6-0, 6-2, in the opening round before downing Fresno’s John Karlman, 6-1, 6-1, in the quarterfinals. Thereafter, Sarkissian teamed with Campbell and survived a back-and-forth opening-round match to defeat Santa Rosa’s Donny Felish and David Hutton, 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 before winning in the quarterfinals against Foothill’s Martinez and Alex Johnston, 6-1, 6-3.
“The thing that I told both of them is this is sudden death,” MacKay said. “Their approach has to be there’s no tomorrow and that’s our approach.”
Today, Sarkissian — who can potentially add state champion to his laundry list of tourney wins that includes having won the Western State Conference, Ojai and regional championships — will begin the action at 9 a.m. in singles when he faces Ventura’s Sasha Hedberg, who defeated Reedley’s Andre Almeida, 6-4, 6-0, in the quarters. The winner will face either Johnston or College of the Desert’s Rodrigo Schaefer in the championship later that day.
Sarkissian had little resistance in dispatching Martinez and Karlman.
“Alex just has the ability to go to a higher level,” MacKay said. “He just realizes it’s time to play.
“He’s opened a lot of eyes. … He is just playing outstanding tennis, but he has to keep that focus and keep that approach.”
After Sarkissian’s quarterfinal win against Karlman, the Vaqueros tandem had quite a struggle with Hutton and Felish.
“Obviously the biggest match was the doubles match against Santa Rosa,” MacKay said. “It could’ve gone either way. They’re a very good team.
“We just capitalized on the big points in the third set.”
The quarterfinal match against the Foothill duo proved less strenuous, as Campbell and Sarkissian swept.
“I was very impressed with the quarters,” MacKay said.
After today’s singles championship concludes, Campbell and Sarkissian will begin their run for a doubles crown against familiar foes Torsten Kiel-Long and Oliver Andrzejczuk. Campbell defeated Kiel-Long in regional singles play and he and Sarkissian bested the duo for the Ojai doubles championship.
“I have every confidence in Alex and Trevor in both singles and doubles. I think they’re ready,” MacKay said. “I think the important thing for tomorrow is we’re ready for battle.”