By Jacob Norling
March 16, 2025
 
(ATHERTON, Calif.) After losing a couple matches to the rain this week the Warriors finally got one in against the Menlo Oaks on Saturday in Atherton. Unfortunately for Westmont, the Warriors had their hearts broken again in a 4-3 loss to the Oaks.
 
The day started off promising for Westmont, after Austin Stone and Goor Adiv took care of business at line one by a score of 6-3. After a 6-4 loss on two, Valentin Dignac and Owen Vander Ark clinched the first point of the day with a 6-4 win over Ramiro Perez and Henry Riccioni-Brown.
 
In singles, however, the Oaks flipped the match on its ear. The Warriors got two wins at line one and two, with Stone defeating Robin Mcalpine 6-0, 6-7 (5), 6-2, and Diego De Cooman defeating Asger Illdor Emil 6-1, 6-3. Elsewhere, however, the Warriors lost in straight sets on line three, four, and five.
 
The match eventually came down to court six, where Owen Vander Ark won set one 7-6, and loss set two 3-6 against Duarte Brito. The match would not fall Vander Ark's way, however, as a 7-5 win for Brito in the third set secured a come-from-behind victory for the Oaks.
 
"It was quite a battle today," assured head coach Chris Elwood. "It came to captain Owen Vander Ark's match, and it came down to the wire. The match was 3-3, then it was 5-5, and he just got barely edged out. The highlight today, though, was the quality of play in doubles. We've been searching for a combination in our doubles squads that would work, and we think we found one today.
 
"Then individually, Diego De Cooman's play was just outstanding at number-two. Austin had a great win as well, in three sets, which really set the stage for a great battle at number six singles. We just barely came short, and it's our third match in a row to lose 4-3. It was painful, and we're looking to bounce back tomorrow against Jessup.
 
The Warriors will look to get in the win column on Sunday afternoon, when they compete against Jessup up north.