California Baptist University
TBA
CHAMPS AT OJAI
4/27/2009 2:45:00 AM | Men's Track
OJAI, Calif. --- All-American Alessandro Ventre defeated Fresno Pacific's Alex Gonzalez, 6-4, 6-3, to win the individual title at the 109th Annual Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament this weekend.
The Lancers also won the team title at the prestigious tournament, which is billed as the longest running amateur tennis tournament in the country, for the first time since 1990. All three Lancer competitors that played singles reached the quarterfinals. Both doubles' teams reached the quarterfinals as well.
“This was an outstanding performance from our boys this week,” said CBU Head Coach Chris Taylor. “You look back through the 100 year history of this prestigious tournament and see who has won it in the past, teams like San Diego State, Arizona, University of San Diego, UC Irvine, and Pepperdine, and you begin to understand just how special it is to win the team title.”
In addition to his individual title, Ventre teamed with Martin Vaisse to win the doubles' portion of the tournament as well, defeating Fresno Pacific's Gonzalez and Vicente Joli, the top seed, when they retired down 7-5, 2-1.
In the singles' finals, Ventre, who was seeded second in the tournament, led the opening set 5-4 and broke the sixth-seed Gonzalez when he had two double faults, his only double faults of the set.
“Alessandro played some of the best tennis we have seen from him all year,” said Taylor. “Winning five really tough matches in three days is an incredible accomplishment, and his performance against Alex in the finals was one to remember.”
The junior's run to the finals began with a quick 6-0, 6-0 win over Pomona-Pitzer's Sam Strassman in the round of 32. He then downed Point Loma Nazarene's Travis Albaugh, 6-0, 6-2, to advance to the quarterfinals. In the round of eight, Ventre took out Fresno Pacific's Maxime Adam, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.
Ventre then upended teammate and doubles' partner Vaisse, 6-2, 7-5, in the semifinals to punch his ticket to the finals.
“Alessandro couldn't have done what he did this weekend without Martin in the doubles,” said Taylor. “Martin was nails this weekend. We knew he was extremely talented, but since he's been playing at No. 3 in the line-up most of the year no one really got to see just how good he was. It was unfortunate that he and Alessandro had to battle it out in the semifinals. They are so evenly matched, but it was just Alessandro's day.”
Unseeded Vaisse defeated Willamette's Alex Sepenzis, 6-1, 6-0, in the round of 32 before upsetting No. 3 seed Joli, 6-4, 6-1, in the round of 16. Vaisse then defeated Janosch Apelt of Azusa Pacific, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (5) in the quarterfinals to set up the showdown with Ventre.
Lucas Perriera also advanced to the quarterfinals with a win over Westmont's Kent Stormans (6-2, 6-0) in the round of 32 and an upset of top-seed Matthjis Bolsius of Azusa Pacific, 6-2, 6-3, in the round of 16. However, his run came to an end in the quarterfinals when he had to retire in the third set against Gonzalez.
“Lucas was certainly the surprise of the tournament,” said Taylor. “Like Martin, we knew he was very good but playing at No. 4 in the line-up, he hadn't got the chance to shine yet. In Ojai though, he let everyone know how good he was. The upset over No. 1-seed Bolsius in the round of 16 (along with Martin beating Vicente) sent a message to everyone in the tournament that the Lancers were here.”
In doubles' action, Vaisse and Ventre, the fourth seed, defeated Whittier's Gabrial Farias and Jonathan Pollare, 6-1, 6-0, in the round of 16 and then defeated PLNU's Albaugh/Landon Hilker, 7-6, 7-5, to advance to the semis. In the semifinals, Vaisse and Ventre defeated sixth-seed Adam/Marco Foelz 6-4, 6-2.
Fifth-seed Oliver Andrzjczuk and Carlos Cirne-Lima advanced to the quarterfinals where they lost to Joel Myers/Curt Wheeler, 7-5, 6-2.
For full results, click here.
