Playing their fourth match on the road in less than a week, the Cerritos College men's tennis team ran out of steam against powerful College of the Desert on Tuesday. The Falcons (4-4) finished their road trip with a 1-3 record, but all three losses were to teams loaded with international players. Cerritos will now open South Coast Conference play on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at Mt. San Antonio College.

Facing a team that lists 11 of their 14 players as international players, the Falcons struggled from top to bottom. Freshman Nathan Eshmade (Kings Baptist, Australia HS) dropped his first match of the season, as he was defeated, 2-6, 2-6 by fellow Aussie Josh Banks. Sophomore Todd Jenkins (Cabrillo HS) surrendered the first  set to Australian Justin Seller, 1-6 and then extended him to a 6-7(5) score in the second set.

In doubles play, Eshmade and freshman Mathew Espiritu (Long Beach Millikan HS) pushed Seller and Brazilan Carlos Vai to an 8-6 score, as did freshmen Gianni Jeong (Cerritos HS) and Julian Avila (Paramount HS) against Brazilians Michael Rozenfield and Rafa Paroli.

SINGLES

Josh Banks (COD) def. Nathan Eshmade (CERR), 6-2, 6-2
Justin Seller (COD) def. Todd Jenkins (CERR), 6-1, 7-6(5)
Ryan Sevil (COD) def. Mathew Espiritu (CERR), 6-2, 6-1
Carlos Vai (COD) def. Maurice Grijalva (CERR), 6-1, 6-0
Rafa Paroli (COD) def. Gianni Jeong (CERR), 6-2, 6-3
Michael Rozenfield (COD) def. Julian Avila (CERR) 6-0, 6-1

DOUBLES

Justin Seller/Carlos Vai (COD) def. Nathan Eshmade/Mathew Espiritu (CERR), 8-6
Josh Banks/Ryan Sevil (COD) def. Todd Jenkins/Maurice Grijalva (CERR), 8-2
Michael Rozenfield/Rafa Paroli (COD) def. Gianni Jeong/Julian Avila (CERR), 8-6

Photo by Daryl Peterson