The Ventura College men's tennis team clinched its first state championship Thursday afternoon.

The doubles team of Matthias Muster and Alexandre Rigobello defeated Charles Nguyen and Ben Fernandez 6-3, 6-1 to clinch Ventura's 5-2 win over Fresno City College Tuesday afternoon at El Dorado Tennis Center in Long Beach.

Ventura's two other doubles teams were also up a set at the moment the title was clinched.

Fresno had defeated Ventura in its previous state dual team final, 5-2, in 2004.

Coach Nelson Emery, less than a year after suffering a life-threatening neck injury, earned Ventura College's lucky 13th state championship for all sports.

"Top of the mountain," sophomore James Preston told his coach as they embraced on the court.

"And we get to put the flag in" answered Emery, who was soon given an ice water bath by sophomore Diego Almeida and freshman Ben Steensland.

His program joins men's basketball (51, 52, 87, 95, 96), women's basketball (95, 96, 99, 00, 01), men's swimming (05) and women's cross country (82 small schools) as the fifth VC program to capture state glory.

Unable to hide a wide smile, Emery earned a final cheer from his state champions.

James Preston, Diego Almeida and Ben Steensland routed their opposition at No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 singles, respectively.

Preston, the Pirate from Penzance, England, swept Troy Kellenberger 6-4, 6-0.

Steensland, a Westlake High product, had missed the first two postseason matches with tennis elbow.

He was healthy and dominant Thursday, cruising past David Nicasio 6-1, 6-1.

In what he would call his best performance of the season, Almeida dispatched Ignacio Lucero, 6-0, 6-4.

Rigobello gave Ventura a 4-0 lead by battling back from a 5-4 deficit to win a second set tiebreak, 7-4.

The Brazilian pumped his first as his teammates cheered him on in his native Portuguese.

Ventura looked set to close out its fourth straight postseason match before doubles play. But Hassan Abbas, at No. 2 doubles, fell in three sets after taking the first set, 6-4.

Matthias Muster, at No. 2 singles, put up a fight against Hilla before falling, 6-4, 6-2.

It was enough to leave Emery confident of finishing the job.

"Three was expected," said Emery. "Four was gravy."