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Cypress College Team Page

Cypress, Calif. - Cypress opened their 2009 season Tuesday with a preseason number seven ranking. The Chargers started it off with a challenge facing the sixth ranked Cerritos College Falcons and were just outdone losing 5-4. Freshman Sam Tozer led Cypress in the number one slot winning in both singles and doubles.

The Chargers had a tough start losing in the number two and four singles spots before Tozer scored the first point for Cypress. After another loss at the number five position, freshman Shesang Patel won in the number six slot which went the distance going three sets. Sophomore Ben Thompson-Star finished off singles action with a hard fought three set win losing the first set 7-5 before coming back to win 6-4 and 7-6.

The teams went into doubles action tied at three. Cypress lost in the number two slot and then Cerritos clinched the win with a win in the number three spot. Cypress would not give in at the number one slot as Tozer and freshman Deondre Moss upset Cerritos’s state doubles finalists from the 2008 season.

"It's tough losing so close, but we now know what we have to work on," said Cypress Head Coach Jeff Benito.  "This is one of the best Cypress teams I have ever seen - including the ones I played on," said Cerritos Head Coach Alvin Kim, who played for the Chargers during his collegiate days.

Cypress starts the season 0-1 and heads on the road to take on two straight four-year universities. They will take on La Sierra University and then Cal Poly Pomona on Thursday then Friday.