Taking on NCAA Division III Cal Lutheran University in their first match of the season, the Cerritos College men's tennis team came away with an 8-1 win on Saturday. The Falcons (1-0) jumped out to a 3-0 lead after doubles play and went on to win five straight set singles matches. The team will now host Los Angeles Pierce College at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
Playing in heavy winds throughout the match, Cerritos was able to put themselves in great position to win the match when the #2 doubles team of sophomores Aleks Trifunovic (Katrinelunds Gymnasium, Sweden) and James Zhang (Shenzhen Luohu Foreign Language School, China) fought back from a 4-1 deficit to earn an 8-6 advantage. The Falcons took that 3-0 doubles momentum into singles play and held off the Kingsmen.
Using a sophomore-driven roster, Cerritos saw Trifunovic, the team's #3 singles player, seal the victory with his 6-2, 6-2 win. Wins by second-year players also came from #1 player Sasha Krasnov (School 106, Ukraine), who earned a 6-3, 6-0 win, while Zhang posted a 6-0, 6-2 victory in the #5 position. Coming in to play singles, sophomore Henry Ayesiga (Malezi School, Kenya) pulled out a close 7-6 first set and then earned a 6-1 win at the #6 match.
The only setback of the day came at #2 singles, where sophomore Nikita Katsnelson (Odessa Gymnasium No. 1, Ukraine) dropped a, 0-6, 5-7 match. He started the day by teaming with Krasnov for an 8-5 doubles win. Freshman Bruno Duarte (Centro Educacional Rogêdo, Brazil) earned his first collegiate singles win with a 6-2, 7-6 victory at the #4 singles position, while he teamed with freshman Marcos Paulo Silvestre (Colégio Tiradentes, Brazil) for an 8-4 doubles victory.
DOUBLES
Sasha Krasnov/Nikita Katsnelson (CERR) def. Dara Kashani/Ransom Braaten (LU), 8-5
Aleks Trifunovic/James Zhang (CERR) def. Lucas Tilly/Jake Haffner (LU), 8-6
Bruno Duarte/Marcos Paulo Silvestre (CERR) def. Sebastian Ariza/Austin Wang (LU), 8-4
SINGLES
Sasha Krasnov (CERR) def. Dara Kashani (LU), 6-3, 6-0
Ransom Braaten (LU) def. Nikita Katsnelson (CERR), 6-0, 7-5
Aleks Trifunovic (CERR) def. Lucas Tilly (LU), 6-2, 6-2
Bruno Duarte (CERR) def. Jake Haffner (LU), 6-2, 7-6
James Zhang (CERR) def. Mike Sulahian (LU), 6-0, 6-2
Henry Ayesiga (CERR) def. Sebastian Ariza (LU), 7-6, 6-1
April 30, 2017
M. Tennis: Doubles team falls in championship match
April 29, 2017
M. Tennis: Krasnov and Katsnelson advance to semifinals
April 28, 2017
M. Tennis: Doubles still alive; singles are eliminated
April 27, 2017
M. Tennis: All players post wins on first day
April 18, 2017
M. Tennis: #2 Falcons upset by Cypress in playoffs
April 11, 2017
M. Tennis: Playoff win advances Falcons
April 7, 2017
M. Tennis: Conference awards go to the Falcons
March 31, 2017
M. Tennis: Pair of wins concludes regular season
March 30, 2017
M. Tennis: Rare doubleheader nets pair of wins
March 28, 2017
M. Tennis: Falcons beat depleted Mt. SAC
March 24, 2017
M. Tennis: Falcons hold off Cypress for win
March 23, 2017
M. Tennis: Cerritos wins 11th straight match
March 18, 2017
M. Tennis: Cerritos dominates North/South Tournament
March 16, 2017
M. Tennis: Team stays undefeated in conference with win
March 14, 2017
M. Tennis: Fifth win of the season over NCAA DIII school
March 11, 2017
M. Tennis: Third win in as many days for the Falcons
March 10, 2017
M. Tennis: Road match nets 8-0 win over Ventura
March 9, 2017
M. Tennis: Week off still results in 8-1 win
March 2, 2017
M. Tennis: Team earns win over El Camino
February 28, 2017
M. Tennis: Falcons open conference with win
February 25, 2017
M. Tennis: Top two teams in the state battle to the end
February 24, 2017
M. Tennis: Win sets up showdown with Irvine Valley
February 23, 2017
M. Tennis: Win over Glendale moves team to 8-0
February 21, 2017
M. Tennis: Cerritos earns another sweeping victory
February 14, 2017
M. Tennis: Falcons sweep past Riverside to stay undefeated
February 11, 2017
M. Tennis: Win improves Falcons record to 5-0
February 9, 2017
M. Tennis: Shutout of Saddleback gives team fourth win
February 2, 2017
M. Tennis: Team beats second NCAA DIII school of the season
January 31, 2017
M. Tennis: Cerritos sweeps past LA Pierce
January 28, 2017
M. Tennis: Falcons open season with 8-1 win