Board Agenda Video (Irvine Valley's tennis team comes on at the 4:36 mark of the video)
The Irvine Valley men's tennis team was honored on Monday night at the monthly South Orange County Community College District Board meeting.
Irvine Valley players that swept the 3C2A state titles last month as a team award, and then in singes with sophomore Nick Grove and doubles with Grove and sophomore Luciano Pardo were happy to be honored.
The Lasers were welcomed by SOCCD Chancellor Dr. Julianna M. Asperin Barnes, on stage along with Irvine Valley President John Hernandez, IVC Dean and Athletic Director Keith Shackleford along with the rest of the district's respected board.
The Irvine Valley men's tennis team wrote names into the history books with an incredible run at the 3C2A State Championship at Ojai/Ventura.
Fresh off of their 3C2A State championship victory over Foothill Wednesday, the Lasers entered the prestigious Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament over the weekend for individual play.
IVC claimed both the men's singles and doubles titles.
The Lasers didn't just compete, Irvine Valley dominated the 123rd edition of the event.
Throughout the weekend, weather threatened to disrupt play.
However, the Ojai Tournament committee did an amazing job keeping the players informed and the courts playable.
The men's championship match began between Irvine Valley sophomore teammates Grove and Luis Moros.
Grove started the first set on fire, executing strategy to perfection with a strong first serve and aggressive, corner-to-corner forehands, which dictated points.
His strong play, kept Moros behind the baseline.
Moros dropped the first set, 6-2, but he had opportunities.
There were multiple games of 30-all, but every time he evened the game score, Grove responded with an incredible point, to take the advantage.
The second set started different.
Moros broke Grove's serve to give him a 2-1 lead.
But, every time Moros was given an opportunity to claw back into the match, Grove stepped up and neutralized the threat.
Grove broke Moros' serve to even the match at 2-2.
Following a 10-minute weather delay, Grove took over, winning the next four games to claim the men's singles title, 6-1, 6-2.
Aftter the singles award ceremony, Grove was back on the court, and partnered with sophomore teammate Luciano Pardo.
Together, the two faced the top-seeded tandem of Keisuke Ariga and Abdala Quintero from Foothill.
Grove and Pardo competed well in the first set, especially with the aggressive net play against the Foothill duo.
Grove's serve proved to be the key weapon.
With a strong serve, Pardo was able to take over the net, for easy put aways.
The tandem also returned well and was able to take the first set, 6-4.
The second set was no different for Grove and Pardo.
Behind the loud cheers from their teammates, Irvine Valley's duo outplayed its opponent, winning the second set, 6-1, and securing their two-in-a row title.
