By Tim Heiduk
February 10, 2020
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) The Westmont men's tennis team (0-2) lost its home opener on Saturday against Redlands, 1-6. It was the Warriors' final tune-up match before beginning GSAC play this weekend.
 
Westmont began the match in doubles by winning at number one. Matt Alleman and Zachary Prince combined to defeat Brysl Libao and Donovan Lilov, 6-4.
 
"We played pretty darn well at number one doubles, winning that with Matt and Zach," Westmont head coach Mark Basham said. "I was happy with how they came back after being down a break of serve."
 
Unfortunately for the Warriors, they lost the other two doubles' matches, conceding the point available in doubles to the Bulldogs.
 
"We were close at number three doubles and had we won that, we would've been up 1-0," Basham said.
 
Sebastian Vethan and Taylor Stephens narrowly dropped their match at number three to Andrew Leahy and Michael Cabacungan, 4-6. Benjamin Saito and Ryan Chung lost to Thomas Reznik and Andrew Yip, 2-6, at number two.
 
"Our doubles was a little better than it was against Biola," Basham said.
 
Prince picked up the lone point for the Warriors with his victory at number two singles. The freshman picked up his first collegiate win by defeating Reznik in straight sets: 6-3, 6-3.
 
"In singles, I'm definitely happy with Zach Prince at number two," Basham said. "He got the lone win for us and was really solid yet again, like he was against Biola."
 
Alleman fell just short at number one, as Leahy defeated the junior in three sets: 7-6 (7-3), 1-6, 6-4.
 
"The other really close match was Matt Alleman at number one," Basham said. "He really could've won the match in straight sets and had a set point in the first set, but didn't get it."
 
Abraham Pauta was the next closest for the Warriors at number six, dropping his match to Cabacungan 6-2, 6-4. Chung lost to Lilov (1-6, 2-6) at number three and Saito fell to Libao (0-6, 0-6) at number four. Vethan dropped his match at number five to Yip: 1-6, 1-6.
 
The Warriors hit the road on Saturday to begin GSAC play at Marymount at 4:30 p.m.
 
"We have to keep working day-to-day to get better," Basham said. "We're a young team."