Irvine Valley's Bellegy doubles up on CCCAA state tennis titles

Irvine Valley freshman Arthur Bellegy was a double-winner at the California Community College Athletic Asociation Men's Tennis Individual State Championships Saturday, winning the singles title and later pairing with freshman Kiichi Ishida to take home the doubles crown at Mt. San Antonio College. 

Bellegy wrapped up the singles title in straight sets earlier in the cay with two straight wins and came back after a break and two two more in a row with Ishida.

Both wins for Bellegy came against College of the Desert freshman Marco Alvarez, who teamed up with Raymundo Chavez in the doubles.

In the singles championship, it was number one versus number two, with top South seed Bellegy coming out the winner with a 6-1, 6-2 victory.

Bellegy, who is from Paris, dominated from the beginning and became the third champion from Irvine Valley since 2016.

Javier Callejo won back-to-back titles for IVC in 2016 and 2017.

Bellegy talked about his win over Alvarez in singles.

"It feels really good for me, actually," said Bellegy, who has been in America for three years. "It's the first time (I've) won a title this big. 

"I used my forehand because I have a big forehand. I put some topspin on his backhand and made him run a lot. I tried to do my best to stay consistent the whole match."

The excitable Alvarez was limited a bit with a slight foot injury.

In the doubles final, Bellegy and Ishida defeated Alvarez and Chavez, 6-4, 6-4.

Bellegy and Ishida, who were the South No. 2 team, opened the weekend with an easy first-round doubles win, 6-1, 6-0, but until Saturday's final, they were taken to the limit in the quarterfinals and semifinals before advancing to the title match.

In the quarters, they opened with a 6-3 win over Solano's doubles team of Connor Ard and Jackson Devries, but fell in the second, 5-7, before coming out in the third set with a 13-11 victory.

The semis were the real test as the No. 1 North team of Micah Erwin and Ravi Nelson took IVC's tandem to the limit in both sets, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-3).

Overall, it was a solid weekend for several Lasers. IVC had two singles players and two doubles teams reach the semifinals.

Freshmen Inaki Braun Simo and Pierre Van de Gaer fell in the semis of the doubles, 6-2, 6-2, to Alvarez and Chavez.

Van de Gaer, who was the No. 5 seed from the South, also made the singles semifinal. He lost to Alvarez, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Singles Draw / Doubles Draw

Release courtesy John Sherrard, CCCSIA/Mt. San Antonio College Athletics