With a chance to compete in the state championships on the line, the men”s and women”s tennis players wiffed, because no player was able to qualify after not being able to win their regional matches.
In the Southern California Regionals, Tsuyoshi Nagaoka made it to the round of 16, after easily advancing from the round of 64 with a bye. He went on to defeat Deo Brown from San Diego City 6-2, 6-1 in the round of 32 before losing to Laurent Minguez from Orange Coast College 4-6, 0-6.
Keith Boggero advanced after a bye in the round of 64 before losing to Ventura College”s Alex Rigobello 2-6, 1-6 in the round of 32 in single”s competition.
In men”s double”s competition, Nagaoko and Boggero advanced after a bye in the round of 64 and would defeat the team of Brad Fisher and Yannick Lapage from Orange Coast 6-4, 6-3 in the round of 32.
However, they lost to College of the Desert”s Francisco Stuardo and Cesar Uuay 0-6, 3-6 in the round of 16.
In women”s singles action, Kacy Turner lost her first match to an unknown opponent from College of the Desert and Kristle Davis did not play because of an injury suffered in single”s competition.
In women”s double”s action, Eunice Nau and Tatiana Steward lost their first match to a team from Southwestern.
The players were pleased with their experience they had at regionals.
“My experience was OK. I would have loved to have played doubles, but Kristle was injured,” Turner said.
“It was a good experience going to regionals because we learned a lot about our own game and developed new strategies that we can use for next season to become better and more consistent players,” Nau said
Nobody from EC qualified for the state championship rounds.
“All players lost their regional matches,” Coach Steve Van Kanegan said.
Van Kanegan is going to have a busy summer recruiting players.
“I will talk to local area players and persuade them to play for us,” Van Kanegan said.
When Van Kanegan isn”t coaching tennis, he teaches at another college and works individually with player”s.
Van Kanegan said he will teach tennis during the summer session at EC and will continue to look for qualified players.
Now that the season is over, the Warriors can look ahead to next season”s schedule when it is finally released.
“It will be finalized in June and it is expected to come out by the fall,” Van Kanegan said.
This upcoming season, the Warriors will have a home court ending their two-year stay at North Torrance High School.
“We are anticipating to play at home,” Van Kanegan said.
The tennis courts are close to being open again to the tennis team because construction is expected to be finished in June.
However, it will be a while before the tennis team holds its first official practice on the courts.
“Fall will be the first official practice. The courts are available to the players to practice on during the summer,” Van Kanegan said.