Box Score By Jacob Norling
February 11, 2023
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Men's Tennis (0-3) dropped their home opener on Saturday in Santa Barbara, when they fell to the Caltech Beavers by a score of 6-1. The Beavers claimed the doubles point of the match and surrendered just one singles match before claiming victory over the Warriors.
 
Number two doubles was the first match to finish on Saturday, where Nate Zou and Victor defeated Westmont's Cody Ray Emery and Owen Vander Ark 6-1. On three the Warriors fought hard to even the match, but ultimately, Benny Saito and Santiago Tintore Ramon fell by a score of 7-5, which gave Caltech the match's first point.
 
"We're just not quite there in doubles," said Westmont head coach Mark Basham. "It was really close again, and guys were playing well, but we didn't quite get over the hump. Number two doubles just didn't play well today, so were going to have to figure out if we have to move that around, and our number three doubles team fought well.
 
"Not getting the doubles point makes it tough for us, especially when you're playing a really good Caltech team."
 
In singles, Westmont's lone victory came on two, where the freshman Emery defeated Andrew Zabelo 6-1, 6-4. Away from three, the Beavers struck early on courts one and five to inch closer to victory. On one, Kyle McCandless defeated Logan Thompson 7-6 (6), 6-4, and on five, Zou defeated Preston Hastings 6-3, 6-2.
 
The Beavers clinched victory on court three, where Ethan Ha fell to Daniel Wen 6-3, 7-5.
 
"The definite highlight was Cody Ray winning on two," noted Basham. "It's good to see him get back to winning ways because he's going to be a really good player for us. Aside from Cody Ray, I still thought we battled well. Ethan, Owen, and Benny all put up great fights.
 
"The guys didn't lay an egg or anything like that. They were competing today, no question. In tennis you have to first get over the hump and then figure out to weather the ups and downs in matches. We had to be sharper than we were today in order to win this match, and this time it just didn't quite happen."
 
The Warriors return to action on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m., when they travel to Thousand Oaks to battle the Cal Lutheran Kingsmen.