Vaqs pick up mixed results

GLENDALE — With the wind whipping up across parts of Southern California, several players from the Glendale Community College men’s and women’s tennis teams began their quest Thursday to win state crowns.

Two doubles teams and one singles player from the men’s team and a women’s doubles team battled the elements to the best of their abilities while achieving mixed results at the Southern California Regionals.

Glendale college’s men’s doubles teams of Emanuel Haug and Joey Tresierras and Dinusha Wijesuriya and Paul Nagapetyan kept their bids alive by advancing to the round of 16 at Cal State Northridge.

Haug defaulted in the second round of a singles match because of cramps. The Vaqueros’ women’s doubles team of Sarah Aguilar and Mineli Ebrahimi lost in the second round at Long Beach City College.

After earning a first-round bye, Haug, a sophomore, began things with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory against a player from Orange Coast. In the third round, Glendale college men’s Coach Bob MacKay said Haug opted to default against Ventura’s Juan Arteaga because of cramps.

“He had two hours to recover so he got treatment and got ready for his doubles set,” MacKay said. “The conditions were not great because it was very windy and cold.”

The move paid dividends for Haug, who worked with Tresierras to earn a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 second-round win against a team from El Camino. The duo drew a first-round bye, allowing Haug additional time to recover.

“Joey and Emanuel were the better team and they were able to close it out,” MacKay said.

Haug and Tresierras will face off against a team from San Diego Mesa at 1 p.m. today at CSUN in a round-of-16 match.

The winner will automatically qualify for the state tournament, which will be held May 6-8 at Balboa Bay Club in Palos Verdes.

Like Haug and Tresierras, Wijesuriya and Nagapetyan received a first-round bye.

They then teamed up to pick up a 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) second-round victory against a team from Orange Coast. Wijesuriya and Nagapetyan will meet a team from Santa Barbara in a round-of-16 match today at CSUN.

“Dinusha and Paul definitely opened some eyes,” MacKay said. “Hopefully, they can eke out another victory [today].

“When they hit the ball, they can hurt you because they can hit the ball hard.”

In the women’s competition, Aguilar and Ebrahimi saw their season come to an end in the second round. After picking up a first-round bye, Aguilar and Ebrahimi suffered a 6-2, 7-6 (7-2) loss to a team from Palomar.

“Palomar played great and we played well,” first-year Glendale college women’s Coach Bob Donaghy said. “Palomar just didn’t make any mistakes and it just wasn’t meant to be for Sarah and Mineli.

“They did all they could.”

The Southern California Regional quarterfinals will be held later Friday.