The Ventura Pirates men’s tennis team has enjoyed immense success this season garnering an undefeated record (18-0), their 9th Western State Conference title in 10 years and a chance at a state championship.

Throughout the regular season the Pirates have dominated WSC play putting them in a prime position to compete at an extremely high level at the State Championships.

They are the number one seed in the Southern California playoffs, and beat the eighth-seed San Diego Mesa College in the first round, and beat Mt. San Jacinto So. Cal Semi Finals and College of the Desert in the finals to advance to the team’s second state title in three years.

Success of this magnitude is nothing new to the Pirates as this is the fourth straight year they have been undefeated during the regular season.

The 2009 Western State Conference championship also puts the Pirates men’s tennis program merely one title behind L.A. Pierce college for the most of all-time at nine.

Athletic Director Will Cowen believes the men’s tennis success is an important piece to Ventura College’s growth in athletics.

“The better every program does the better it is for everyone else, meaning that the more success from men’s tennis, swimming and women’s basketball [teams[ the more attractive Ventura College becomes to all of our student athletes leaving high school,” said Cowen.

The Pirates look to replicate their rise to the top of the mountain in 2008 by winning the 2010 State Championship, set to be held on May 7-8 at the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach, Calif.