The first ever Orange Empire Conference title for the Irvine Valley men's tennis team isn't clinched quite yet, but the Lasers moved that much closer on Tuesday.
Irvine Valley defeated its biggest competition in conference, Riverside, 7-2, at Riverside.
It was the Lasers' second 7-2 victory over the Tigers this season.
Irvine Valley improved its record to 13-1 overall and 6-0 in conference with the win.
"We are chasing that conference title hard," IVC second-year coach Ross Duncan said.
IVC has four conference matches left against Saddleback, Fullerton, Cypress and Orange Coast. It has already beat each of those teams, 9-0, this season.
Two more wins and IVC will earn at least a share of the title and with three more conference victories the team takes the title outright.
Riverside slipped to 11-3 overall and 4-2 in conference.
The Lasers, who finished second to Riverside in conference last season, were dominant once again in singles in Tuesday's match.
They won all six singles contests to wrap up the overall win before doubles even got underway. The first time the two teams met, IVC won five of six in singles.
Each of the singles wins on Tuesday were in straight sets. Most were fairly easy.
The toughest match turned out to be when Irvine Valley sophomore James Lafond defeated Joffrey Fecomme, 7-5, 6-3, at No. 5 singles.
Freshman Simon Guillin, who played No. 1 singles, defeated Danny Garcia, 6-4, 6-4.
Freshman Guillermo Ucelay beat David Stanko, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 2 singles, sophomore Steven Le defeated Yann Herve, 6-0, 6-2, at the No. 3 spot, freshman Jack Divorty beat Partick Stetco, 6-2, 6-3, at the No. 4 position and freshman Max Rumeau beat Conner Stephenson, 6-4, 6-2, at the No. 6 singles slot.
Riverside won two of the three doubles matches. IVC's lone win in doubles came from Ucelay and Guillion at the No. 2 position. The duo beat Stanko and Stetco, 8-2.
Irvine Valley plays again on Thursday, hosting Saddleback at 2 p.m.
Singles
1) Simon Guillin (IVC) def. Danny Garcia (RCC), 6-4, 6-4
2) Guillermo Ucelay (IVC) def. David Stanko (RCC), 6-2, 6-1
3) Steven Le (IVC) def. Yann Herve (RCC), 6-0, 6-2
4) Jack Divorty (IVC) def. Patrick Stetco (RCC), 6-2, 6-3
5) James Lafond (IVC) def. Joffrey Fecomme (RCC), 7-5, 6-3
6) Maxime Rumeau (IVC) def. Conner Stephenson (RCC), 6-4, 6-2
Doubles
1) Garcia/Stephenson (RCC) def. Le/Divorty (IVC), 8-4
2) Ucelay/Guillin (IVC) def. Stanko/Stetco (RCC), 8-2
3) Herve/Romero (RCC) def. Rumeau/Thomas Gibson (IVC), 8-5
