Glendale’s men’s tennis team gave it their all and never backed down against the number two ranked team in the state, Mt. San Jacinto, despite losing 9-0.

The afternoon started with the Vaqueros losing all of their singles matches. There was one match that stood out in particular with Glendale’s Paul Negapetyan putting up a strong effort in his match against Mt. San Jacinto’s Bruno Reich. The final score was 6-4, 5-7 and 8-10, with Negapetyan losing in 3 sets.

Head coach Bob MacKay was happy with the way his team played overall. “I think it is one of our best performances of the season. We played well at times and we just have to play a little better but I’m happy with them,” he said.

The Vaqueros Emanuel Haug was also content with the way his team played and he knows that they gave it all they could. “The team was fighting hard and everybody was trying to give their best,” said Haug.

The team started off strong going 3-1 in their first four matches but they have dropped their last five falling to 3-6 overall and 0-3 in conference play. But MacKay isn’t too worried.

“The teams we played at the beginning of the season weren’t the caliber of teams that were playing now. Were playing the best teams,” said MacKay.

The Vaqueros are facing teams like Mt. San Jacinto, which is very strong, and is trying to improve along the way. Haug is using this experience of playing the top teams to his benefit.

“Mt. San Jacinto is one of the top teams in the state and you can see what you’re up against, compare and make adjustments,” said Haug.

As for turning around the season, coach MacKay is looking to get back on track to win conference games that will hopefully help his team get into the Western State Conference tournament.

“We go back to league play next week,” said MacKay. “We have to go to Bakersfield and beat them. We go to Ventura which is going to be awfully tough. Then we have to come back and beat Pierce and Santa Barbara. These are matches we have to win in the second half of the season.”

This team is not giving up yet despite their record. Haug has some big goals for the rest of the season that will hopefully improve the Vaqueros record. “Everyone has to compete and play at their level and that everybody has to be ready to play and stay healthy so that we can finish strong,” he said.

But MacKay lives by one important philosophy not only for tennis but a life goal: “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.”

The Vaqueros next matches are on Friday at Ventura College and Tuesday at Santa Barbara College. The next home match is against L.A. Pierce College. All games start at 2 p.m.