By Matt Berson, RealSID.com
VENTURA, Calif. – If the crown fits, keep it.
A year after staging a comeback en route to the state title, Irvine Valley College left no doubt during the 2026 3C2A Men’s Dual Team Championship, sweeping Foothill College 5-0 in a rematch of the 2025 version on Wednesday afternoon at Ventura College.
The win marks IVC’s fifth state championship, all of which have come since 2015.
“Going back-to-back means everything. When players come to IVC, we want them to know they have an opportunity to win State,” said IVC head coach Ross Duncan. “This is a really special group. They were extremely coachable and their team spirit and energy were unmatched.”
IVC sprinted out of the gates in No. 2 doubles with Humam Alajeely and Nevin McCann breaking Foothill three times en route to a 6-0 lead. The Lasers prevailed 8-2 for the first point of the day.
In No. 1 doubles, the Orange Empire Conference’s doubles pair of the year, Philip Neuman and Steven Anderson, held off a mid-set rally from Abdala Quintero and Danyl Yavir. Trailing 4-1, Quintero and Yavir broke IVC and pulled within one, but IVC responded by breaking serve and adding another to make it 6-3 on their way to an 8-5 win.
Jonathan Hinkel and Richard Peterey came up big for IVC on court three, rallying off three straight games twice within the dual on their way to an 8-3 win over Devin Bergman and Santi Montgomery.
For McCann, who fell in his doubles pairing in 2025 and was the only returning IVC player from last year’s lineup, getting the first point on the board was critical.
“It’s important to get off to a fast start in doubles. Just staying present and getting what needs to get done in the moment really helped us to the start we wanted,” said McCann.
In singles, Anderson continued his stellar play, overpowering Yavir 6-1, 6-1 on court two. His win was quickly followed by Bradley Yung’s 6-4, 6-0 victory over Devin Bergman, which sent the Lasers into chants and celebrations out on court six.
“Getting the final point was super cool. I haven’t been able to finish a match in these playoffs because other people have clinched before me,” said Yung. “I felt the energy from my teammates who really helped me along. To go back-to-back is unbelievable.”
The Lasers had won the first set of all four singles matches that did not finish.
Foothill’s Ian Darby gave the Owls a bright spot, picking off the second set from Peterey in No. 3 singles. Foothill ends the season 9-4 overall with an upset win over conference rival and NorCal No. 1 seed Chabot on its posseason resume.
IVC finishes the season 14-1 overall. The Lasers earned the OEC conference title, a No. 1 SoCal Region seed, and defeated No. 8 Santa Barbara, No. 4 Ventura, and No. 7 Glendale on its postseason journey.
“We’ve worked so hard all season and it led to this moment,” said Anderson. “It all paid off today.”
Irvine Valley College 5, Foothill College 0
Doubles
1. Philip Neuman/Steven Anderson (IVC) def. Abdala Quintero/Danyl Yavir (FC), 8-5
2. Humam Alajeely/Nevin McCann (IVC) def. Nathan Nguyen/Ian Darby (FC), 8-2
3. Jonathan Hinkel/Richard Peterey (IVC) def. Devin Bergman/Santi Montgomery (FC), 8-3
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
Singles
1. Philip Neuman (IVC) led Abdala Quintero (FC), 6-3, 2-2 DNF
2. Steven Anderson (IVC) def. Danyl Yavir (FC), 6-1, 6-1
3. Richard Peterey (IVC) vs Ian Darby (FC), 6-1, 3-6, 0-0 DNF
4. Human Alajeely (IVC) led Nathan Nguyen (FC), 6-4, 4-0 DNF
5. Nevin McCann (IVC) led Santi Montgomery (FC), 6-4, 1-0 DNF
6. Bradley Yung (IVC) def. Devin Bergman (FC), 6-4, 6-0
Mission Accomplished: Eagles Cap 25-0 Season with State Championship
VENTURA, Calif. – Nothing worth having ever comes easy.
For LA Mission College, winning its first 3C2A Women’s Dual Team State Championship was anything but routine.
The Eagles led after the doubles portion but found themselves trailing 4-3 when Sierra College rallied in singles. Genesis Nochez won her match in a second-set tiebreaker on court six to even the score, which left everything hanging on the No. 3 singles matchup between Missison’s Josilyn Rivera and Sierra’s Autumn Holmes.
Rivera lost the first set but took set two 6-1 to force the all-deciding third. She took a quick 2-0 lead, but Holmes answered with a pair of breaks to take a 4-3 advantage. Not to be outdone, Rivera broke Holmes back, and the pair eventually reached a tiebreaker to decide the state championship.
It was all Rivera in the extra frame. She took a quick 2-0 lead on the return and capitalized when Holmes played into the net. On match point, Rivera’s hard return glanced off the handle of her opponent’s racket to hand the Eagles a 5-4 win and the state title.
“Winning the final point is an experience I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” said Rivera. “[Holmes] is an incredible player; she’s so tough. I found something in that tiebreaker and I’m so happy to get it done for my team.”
LA Mission finishes the campaign with a spotless 25-0 record in just its fifth year as a program. On a day when something had to give, the Eagles handed Sierra (11-1) its first loss.
“We didn’t go 25-0 because we’re a bunch of great individuals. It was an incredible group effort,” said LA Mission No. 1 Amy Nghiem. “We are so close with one another and always there supporting one another. That’s what makes this so special.”
The day started with Nghiem and Rivera trouncing their No. 2 doubles opponents 8-2 to take the first point, but Sierra’s Svetlana Nyu and Emma Patterson downed Jaelyn Rivera and Priscilla Grinner 8-4 to make it 1-1.
The final doubles match went into extra time as well, with Alitzel Ortega Partida and Citlalli Diaz coming back to take down Natalie Sabanikh and Isabella Rodriguez, 9-7.
Mission extended its advantage to 3-1 when Priscilla Grinner swept Sofia Rodriguez, 6-0, 6-0, but that’s when the Wolverines rallied. Sierra’s Emma Patterson and Svetlana Nyu cruised in No. 2 and No. 1 singles, respectively, to pull it even at 3-3.
In No. 5 singles, Isabella Rodriguez edged Alitzel Ortega Partida in a crucial first-set tiebreak (7-3) on her way to earning Sierra’s first lead of the day, 4-3.
However, the Eagles did not break, with Nochez and Rivera capping the comeback.“It’s a dream and it’s a miracle,” said Mission head coach Joe Cascione. “Our team never gave up and they stuck together, which is the most important thing. I’m so proud of these players and I’m so happy for Mission College.”
LA Mission College 5, Sierra College 4
Doubles
1. Svetlana Nyu/Emma Patterson (SC) def. Jaelyn Rivera/Priscilla Grinner (LAM), 8-4
2. Amy Nghiem/Josilyn Rivera (LAM) def. Autumn Holmes/Sofia Rodriguez (SC), 8-2
3. Alitzel Ortega Partida/Cittalli Diaz (LAM) def. Natalie Sabanikh/Isabella Rodriguez (SC), 9-7
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
Singles
1. Svetlana Nyu (SC) def. Amy Nghiem (LAM), 6-1, 6-2
2. Emma Patterson (SC) def. Jaelyn Rivera (LAM), 6-3, 6-1
3. Josilyn Rivera (LAM) def. Autumn Holmes (SC), 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (0)
4. Priscilla Grinner (LAM) def. Sofia Rodriguez (SC), 6-0, 6-0
5. Isabella Rodriguez (SC) def. Alitzel Ortega Partida (LAM), 7-6 (3), 6-3
6. Genesis Nochez (LAM) def. Aaliyah Campbell (SC), 6-4, 7-6 (5)
Order of Finish: 4, 2, 1, 5, 6, 3