Gauchos making a case for playoffs

The Saddleback men's tennis team picked up a big win on Tuesday with a 5-4 victory against Riverside City College at the Saddleback Courts.  The Gauchos won a marathon match to pull within a half game of second place in the Orange Empire Conference standings.

Saddleback had a 2-1 lead after doubles play when Connor Mengert and Vance La won a hard-fought, 8-5 decision over Stanislaus Bedrone and Victor Love at No. 2 doubles.  It set up a double-double for Mengert, who then defeated Samuel Paque 6-4, 7-5 at No. 2 doubles.

The match came down to No. 5 singles where Kian Saidi took on Riverside's Matthieu Tabanon for all the marbles.  Saidi (pictured) dropped the first set 3-6 before batting back to win the second set, 7-5.  The third set was a nail-biter, going to a tiebreaker.  Saidi then made his final push, defeating Tabanon 9-7 in the tiebreaker with the entire team watching. 

Saddleback is now 12-7 overall and 6-3 in conference play.  The Gauchos remain a half-game behind second place Orange Coast and three games behind conference-leader Irvine Valley College.  The Gauchos will face IVC in the conference finale on Thursday in Irvine.  Match time is set for 2:00 PM.

Singles:

1. Riku Goto (SC) def. Antoine Voisin (RCC) 6-2, 6-2
2. Samuel Paque (RCC) def. Connor Mengert (SC) 6-4, 7-5
3. Victor Love (RCC) def. Vance La (SC) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
4. Stanislas Bedrone (RCC) def. Michael Park (SC) 6-4, 5-7, 6-0
5. Kian Saidi (SC) def. Matthieu Tabanon (RCC) 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (9-7)
6. Kris Harris (SC) def. Trent Harris (RCC) 7-5, 6-2

Doubles:

1. Voisin & Paque (RCC) def. Goto & Park (SC) 8-6
2. Mengert & La (SC) def. Bedrone & Love (RCC) 8-5
3. Saidi & Harris (SC) def. Tabanon & Harris (RCC) 8-6