March 24, 2026
Pirates Battle it Out in Narrow 5–4 Championship Thriller Against Amerian River College
The MJC men's tennis team delivered a determined and spirited performance Friday but came up just short in a thrilling 5–4 loss to ARC in the conference championship.
Heading into the match, the Pirates were looking to bounce back from a tough 7–2 defeat against ARC on February 26—one in which Modesto managed just two wins. This time, however, the team arrived ready to compete, and it showed from the very start.
Modesto seized early momentum in doubles play, winning two of the three matches. The duo of Eduardo Diaz (Enochs) and Logan Poling (Oakdale) came through with a strong showing at #2 doubles, while Brady Alves (Manteca) and Julian Marquez (Central Catholic) added another key victory at #3 doubles to give the Pirates an early edge.
The intensity carried into the singles competition. Diaz remained a steady force at #3 singles, earning another win, while Alves stepped up in a big way—avenging a previous loss with a hard-fought 7–5, 7–5 victory.
With the overall score tied at 4–4, the championship came down to a decisive match at #2 singles. Jack Conte, who had lost in straight sets to ARC's Jesus Galvan in their previous meeting, showed tremendous growth and resilience. After dropping the first set 4–6, Conte battled back to claim the second set 6–3, pushing the match to a decisive third set.
In grueling 90-degree heat and after more than three and a half hours of singles play, Conte fought until the very end. Despite his effort, he narrowly fell 3–6 in the final set, sealing a 5–4 victory for ARC.
Though the Pirates came up just short, their performance showcased resilience, growth, and determination—proving they could go toe-to-toe with the conference's best in a tightly contested championship match.