~Tennis~

By Alan der OHANNESSIAN

Coming into Thursday’s match, Pasadena was dead last in the standings, having lost all their games as the season neared its conclusion. The sad run included a recent loss against Hoover, 4-14. Likewise, the Falcons were coming off a heavy 3-15 loss to Burroughs two days earlier.

But the Falcons enjoyed a reversal of fortune as Pasadena posed little challenge and CV notched a W, 16-2.

The Falcons lost only one match in their singles column against the Bulldogs.

As they have been doing all season, CV switched their lineup. Doubles player Justin Chung played for the No. 1 spot replacing Aren Abrahamian. Charbel El Khouri, Pasadena’s No. 1, was the only one to pose a challenge. Despite a fight, Chung prevailed, 6-4.

That was the only challenge he faced, quickly taking care of Joseph Esquivel and Andrew Rosales, their No. 2 and No. 3 players, with the same score, 6-0.

Abrahamian played the No. 2 position, enjoyed a dominant performance, beating El Khouri and Rosales, 6-2.

CV Coach Sarah Wiggins, sensing victory, substituted Abrahamian for Simon Park for his third match against Esquivel. He didn’t make her regret the decision as Park dug deep to prevail, 7-5.

Finally, Doil Kim continued with a mesmerizing performance, easily dispatching Esquivel and Rosales, 6-2, 6-0 respectively.

Wiggins substituted Kim for Young Peak for his match against El Khouri, which he lost 6-0, making for Pasadena’s only win in singles.

The Bulldogs only hope of making this series close quickly evaporated when the Falcons showed no sign of slowing down.

Patrick Meserkhani/Tim Chong continued to employ strong teamwork, putting their communication to good use. They set the tone early, beating George Duran and Jeron Norsworthy, 6-4.

The win seemed to instill fear in their next opponents as the pair beat Jimmy Yike/Matthew Sandtrey and Samuel Hayek/Arek Dissarkissian, 6-1 and 6-0.

CV’s Greg Manoucheri/James Ho had a bit tougher time but they conceded eight games in their three matches beating Duran/Norsworthy, Yike/Sandtrey and Hayek/Dissarkissian 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.

Finally, Mheir Krikourian/Allen Chang suffered the only loss in the doubles column. The pair got off to a slow start, losing 1-6 to Pasadena’s No. 1 team. They got back on track to take the next two easily, 6-1 and 6-2.

Despite their win, Coach Wiggins felt Pasadena put up a solid fight.

“It wasn’t a walk in the park by any means,” said Wiggins. “Their one-two singles were [strong] – they had a lot of energy and spirit.”

The Falcons finish the season today at home against Arcadia at 3:30 p.m.

  Alan er OHANNESSIAN