Irvine Valley's men's tennis team is one match away from being back in the state championship.
The Lasers struggled early, but battled to earn a 5-1 win over San Diego Mesa in a California Community College dual team Southern California regional playoffs semifinal match on Tuesday at Irvine Valley.
Irvine Valley, the top-seeded team, will face No. 2 College of the Desert for the second straight year in the regional final. Desert was a 5-1 winner over Cerritos in the other semifinal.
The match is on Saturday at Irvine Valley at a time yet to be determined.
Irvine Valley, which finished second in the state last season, improved its record to 16-1 overall.
Third-seeded San Diego Mesa finished its dual team season at 18-7.
San Diego Mesa gave Irvine Valley fits early on in the doubles.
The Olympians won the first match with Corentin Haener and Kimo Barrere defeated IVC's team of sophomores Valentin Baize and Max Rumeau, 8-1.
But Irvine Valley then pulled out victories in the other two doubles contests.
Irvine Valley freshman duo of Carson Williams and Scott Paz won seven straight games to beat Mesa's team of Luka Stanivukovich and Scott Wheeler, 8-6.
Williams and Paz trailed, 6-1, in the match. They were also down, 6-5, 0-40, at one point, but were able to rally for the win.
IVC's No. 1 team of sophomores Simon Guillin and Guillermo Ucelay lastly earned a hard-fought 8-4 victory over the team of Tyler Luck and Felippo Bedin.
The wins gave Irvine Valley an important 2-1 lead heading into the singles competition.
IVC freshman Bruno Figlia made it 3-1 quickly for the Lasers with a 6-0, 6-0 triumph at No. 6 singles.
Ucelay and freshman Flavien Raveau won at No. 1 and No. 3 singles, respectively to end the overall match for Irvine Valley.
Ucelay defeated Barrere, 6-2, 6-2, while Raveau picked up a 6-3, 6-1 win over Wheeler.
"I thought both teams were a little tight at the start of the match," IVC coach Ross Duncan said. "And I don't think we played our absolute best, but we won and are moving on. We are a step closer to where we want to be."
Irvine Valley def. San Diego Mesa, 5-1
Doubles
1) Simon Guillin/Guillermo Ucelay (IVC) def. Tyler Luck/Felippo Bedin (SDM), 8-4
2) Corentin Haener/Kimo Barrere (SDM) def. Valenin Baize/Max Rumeau (IVC), 8-1
3) Carson Williams/Scott Paz (IVC) def. Luka Stanivukovich/Scott Wheeler (SDM), 8-6
Singles
1) Ucelay (IVC) def. Barrere (SDM), 6-2, 6-2
2) Guillin (IVC) vs. Haener (SDM), unfinished
3) Flavien Raveau (IVC) def. Wheeler (SDM), 6-3, 6-1
4) Williams (IVC) vs. Bedin (SDM) unfinished
5) Tony Selim (IVC) vs. Luck (SDM), unfinished
6) Bruno Figlia (IVC) def. Stanivukovich (SDM), 6-0, 6-0
