Men’s Tennis Carts Six Match Streak into Final Conference Contest

The Riverside City College men's tennis program has its sights set on an Orange Empire Conference (OEC) championship after recently defeating the Irvine Valley College Lasers, 8-1, last week. The Tigers have a six-game match streak brewing and look to end the regular season with a victory over the Orange Coast College Pirates this coming Tuesday.

Throughout this winning streak, the Tigers have completed three sweeps, two coming in OEC action, and one coming against Division III Wheaton College. Additionally, they defeated Division III Rhodes College, 5-4, in mid-March.

The most recent victory from the Tigers was the taste of sweet revenge as they handled conference rival IVC, 8-1, after falling to the Lasers at home in the first week of March.

In the win, Riverside set the tone with a doubles sweep. Sophomore top duo Carlos Rullan and Rafael Rullan teamed up to earn a hard fought 8-6 win. Freshman duo Emilio Real and Enricco Rechia followed with a 9-7 win, while freshman duo Anaht Bhika and Raphael Delente mirrored a 9-7 win.

It was nearly a clean sweep in singles play as well with Riverside's top three dominating play. R. Rullan had the lone three set victory with a 10-4 third set clincher, while Real and C. Rullan bagged two set wins.

Freshman Austin Harvill reeled in a three-set win as the sixth player, while Delente held down the fifth slot leading to a two-set winner.

The Tigers parlayed their efforts into another 8-1 win the following day by defeating Fullerton with wease.

Fullerton, who has failed to put together a complete roster all season, fell victim to the Tigers for the second time this season.  

The Rullan brothers had the most challenging doubles showdown, but reigned supreme 8-5. Bhika and Delente held down the second position and cruised to an 8-0 victory.

R. Rullan was bumped down one slot in the lineup and earned a flawless 6-0, 6-0 win at the second position. Rechia followed with a 6-1, 6-0 win at the third slot, while Harvill earned a fourth-position win at 6-0, 6-1. Bhika rounded out the victories with a 6-0, 6-0 win at the fifth spot.