By Jimmy Friery
March 27, 2026

(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) The Westmont Men's Tennis team (8-6) earned their second consecutive 5-2 win on Friday, beating an energized Missouri-St. Louis (3-9) at the Abbott Tennis Courts.

Judging by the scoreline, one would not expect the Warriors to have lost the doubles point. Westmont responded strongly, though, winning five of the six singles matches—only one going to three sets—while missing number one Rafael Matias. Thus, each player moved up a position, forcing players like JD Drake—who clinched the team's win on court six—into a big spot.

"Credit to the visitors—they really took it to us in doubles and it was a big wake-up call," head coach Chris Elwood said.

In doubles, the Tritons took both number two and number three by a 6-2 score, and were even leading the unfinished number one match 5-4 as the point was clinched.

"The challenge at our halftime talk was to bring a higher level physically, mentally, and emotionally, and the guys did that," Elwood continued. "They responded with some great tennis.

"Playing without your number one (Matias) is always a challenge. I was really proud of the guys that stepped up as the lineup all moved up. Several players rose to the occasion to win in singles."

That they did. New number one Diego De Cooman won when his opponent retired, but it was no fluke as he was leading 5-3 in the first set. Number four Zach Steinberg similarly won by retirement after leading 4-1.

With two points back, Moroccan number two Driss Sedrati swiftly earned a 6-2, 6-2 victory.

"Driss has just continued to raise his level of performance, shown by his convincing win today," Elwood said proudly.

Now up 3-1, Westmont was a point away from victory. That set up a great moment for Drake, who had been competing in doubles but was recently elevated into the singles lineup.

"JD spent the entire fall recovering from a wrist injury. He didn't strike a ball until January," Elwood explained. "So, to miss the fall, work his way back into the singles matches, and see him have fun today and compete at a high level was a real joy."

The freshman from Washington grinded out a 6-4 first-set win before cruising in a 6-1 second, clinching the team's win. For good measure, though, the Warriors kept competing in the remaining matches on courts three and five.

Number five Sidharth Maharana stayed resilient after a tough 6-1 first-set loss. He came back for a 6-4 second-set victory before winning the superbreaker 10-7—the Warriors' fifth and final point.

"The player Sid was playing was lights out with high emotion in the first set," Elwood said. "I was really proud of how he flipped it—a lot of it was strategic in terms of working the ball more to his opponent's backhand and his serving angles. Sid really executed his gameplan well and got better as the match went on."

The Tritons' lone point came on court three against Antoine De Cooman, who should still hold his head high. Both of his sets were extremely competitive; after a first set tiebreaker—7-6 (7-2)—a 6-4 defeat ended the match.

Altogether, the Warriors hope to build on this performance as they travel to face a solid Biola team tomorrow. The match is set for a 2:30 p.m. start.