Ekola moves into WSC semifinals; 4 Vaqueros qualify for State

Spencer Ekola won two matches on Saturday to advance to the WSC men's tennis semifinals at Ventura College and four SBCC players qualified for the State Championships.

Ekola, the sixth seed, beat Arin Meserkhani of Glendale 6-1, 6-2 in the Round of 16, then upset No. 3 Augustin Lestelle of Ventura 6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinals. Ekola will battle No. 7 Bill Whitaker of Ventura in the semifinals on Friday at the VC courts at 11 a.m. Whitaker upset No. 2 Chris Pope of Glendale 6-3, 4-6, 10-7. The final is scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m.

No. 4 Emerson Sekban, the Vaqueros' No. 1 player, cruised past Kevin Orellana of Glendale, then was eliminated in the quarters by Jon Barcohana of L.A. Pierce 6-3, 3-0, retired.

Diego Santos fell to the No. 2 seed Pope of Glendale 6-1, 6-4 in the Round of 16. He returned in the back draw and earned a spot in the State Tournament by beating David Preciado of Glendale 6-3, 6-2.

Ekola, Sekban and Santos will all play for the CCCAA State singles championship on April 27-30 at The Ojai.

In doubles, the fourth-seeded duo of Sekban/Ekola downed Meserkhani/Orellana of Glendale 8-3, then lost a tight semifinal to No. 1 Whitaker/Cruz Thayne of Ventura 7-5, 7-6 (5).

Santos and Adolfo Ortega also earned a doubles slot in the State Tournament by blanking Gerald Sescon/Liberman of Ventura 8-0 in the back draw.