Playing without the services of top singles player Nathan Eshmade (Kings Baptist, Australia HS), the Cerritos College men's tennis team was upset by host Saddleback College on Thursday, 8-1. The Falcons (8-6) will now host Arizona Christian College at 2:00 p.m. on Friday in a non-conference match.

The absence of Eshmade moved all of the singles players up one position on the ladder, which affected the team's chemistry. Of the five singles matches that were lost to the Gauchos, all were in straight sets. The only winner on the day was freshman Maurice Grijalva (Gardena HS), who recorded a 6-1, 6-2 win in the #4 position. Taking over the #1 singles spot for the first time this year was sophomore Todd Jenkins (Cabrillo HS), who dropped a 2-6, 4-6 decision.

Jenkins and Grijalva teamed up to play in the #1 doubles spot and extended Donnie Howren and Will McKinney to an 8-9(4) score, while freshman Julian Avila (Paramount HS) and Gianni Jeong (Cerritos HS) were handed an 8-6 loss.

SINGLES

Adam Bagdy (SADD) def. Todd Jenkins (CERR), 6-2, 6-4
Donnie Howren (SADD) def. Mathew Espiritu (CER), 6-3, 6-3
Alan Darmawan (SADD) def. Julian Avila (CERR), 6-1, 6-2
Maurice Grijalva (CERR) def. Chris Bloom (SADD), 6-1, 6-2
Kevin Stanley (SADD) def. Gianni Jeong (CERR), 6-3, 7-5
Andy Martinez (SADD) def. Danny Cho (CERR), 6-1, 6-1

DOUBLES

Donnie Howren/Will McKinney (SADD) def. Todd Jenkins/Maurice Grijalva (CERR), 9-8(4)
Alan Darmawan/Le (SADD) def. Julian Avila/Gianni Jeong (CERR), 8-6
Kevin Stanley/Brenda Poblete (SADD) def. Danny Cho/Mathew Espirtu (CERR), 8-4

Photo by Daryl Peterson