After dropping four of the six singles matches in their non-conference match at Irvine Valley College on Thursday, the Cerritos College men's tennis team rebounded to win all three doubles matches and pull out a 5-4 team win. The victory improved the Falcons to 2-0 on the year and they will host San Diego Mesa College at 2:00 p.m. next Tuesday.

"It was a horrible start in singles," said head coach Alvin Kim. "The lack of experience at the college level showed in all of our freshmen. Maurice Grijalva (Gardena HS) was able to force a third set and was up 2-0, but fell apart (and lost, 6-2)."

The team's only hope to have a chance to salvage the match came down to sophomore Todd Jenkins (Cabrillo HS) in the #2 position on the ladder against Theo Braune. Jenkins forced a third set after winning, 7-5 and was leading 3-1 until Braune had to retire due to cramps. Last year, Brandon Chang (now at Biola University) defeated Braune in singles and doubles to help the Falcons beat the Lasers.

Freshman Nathan Eshmade (Kings Baptist HS, Australia) was the other singles player to post a win, as he recorded a 6-1, 6-1 victory at the top of the ladder. He then teamed with freshman Mathew Espiritu (Long Beach Millikan HS) for an 8-4 win in doubles play. Jenkins and Grijalva also won, 8-4 with freshmen Gianna Jeong (Cerritos HS) and Julian Avila (Paramount HS) helped complete the doubles sweep with an 8-2 win.

SINGLES

Nathan Eshmade (CERR) def. Rafael Luz (IVC), 6-1, 6-1
Todd Jenkins (CERR) def. Theo Braune (IVC(, 4-6, 7-5, 3-1 (retired)
Steven Le (IVC) def. Mathew Espiritu (CERR), 6-4, 6-0
James Lafond (IVC) def. Maurice Grijalva (CERR), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
Chris Chau (IVC) def. Gianni Jeong (CERR), 6-3, 6-4
Jaime Roman (IVC) def. Julian Avila (CERR), 6-4, 6-4

DOUBLES

Nathan Eshmade/Mathew Espiritu (CERR) def. James Lafond/Steven Le (IVC), 8-4
Todd Jenkins/Maurice Grijalva (CERR) def. Chris Chau/Rafael Luz (IVC), 8-4
Gianna Jeong/Julian Avila (CERR) def. Naseer Alasaeed/Jaime Roman (IVC), 8-2