COLLEGE ROUNDUP

MEN’S TENNIS

Southern California

Regional Tournament

LONG BEACH — Orange Coast College freshman Laurent Minguez, the No. 8 seed, defeated Ventura’s Zack Taylor, 6-4, 6-2, in the final to claim the singles title Saturday at Long Beach City College.

Minguez will be the No. 1 seed in the state tournament, which begins Friday in Sacramento.

Minguez, the Pirates’ No. 1 player all season, had lost a handful of close matches during the season, hence the No. 8 seed, OCC Coach Chris Ketchum said.

“So, it’s not like the guys seeded ahead of him were better,” Ketchum said. “The matches [Minguez] lost during the season were really close; a few points here and there and a couple 4-6 losses in the third set, or in the third-set tiebreaker.”

Ketchum said Minguez’s stamina and mental toughness allowed him to push through at a time when other players are affected more by the long, grueling season.

“[Minguez] has a great tennis game, but he also has the total package,” Ketchum said. “He has been battling a little elbow tendinitis, but he wouldn’t even think of retiring in a match.”