LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola picked up a victory in its season-opener on Friday, defeating cross-town foe Whittier College 6-3 at the Biola Tennis Center.

The Eagles open the year at 1-0 while the Poets drop to 2-2.

Biola got off to a hart start, sweeping the first two doubles matches to go up 2-0 early on. Brea Roth and Joelle Tanaka picked up an easy win at No. 1 doubles with an 8-0 sweep while Christine Garner and Samantha Weng cruised to an 8-2 win at No. 2 doubles.

After Whittier took the third doubles match to pull back within one, Biola quickly took back the lead with a pair of quick singles victories. Kristen Williams came off the court first with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Maryrose Vigorita at No. 4 singles, followed by Tanaka, who won 6-4, 6-0 at No. 1 singles.

The Eagles were then up 4-1 and needed just one more win to clinch the match, but Whittier wouldn't go down without a fight. The Poets pulled off a pair of wins, the first coming in a tiebreaker at No. 6 singles, then another tiebreaker victory at No. 2 singles.

But Weng wrapped up the match for the Eagles, winning a hard-fought tiebreaker over Rachel Aelion-Moss 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) at No. 5 singles to clinch the victory. The most exciting match by far was the final one to end as Garner held off Elizabeth Reitzell 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 at No. 2 singles.

Biola has less than 24 hours to recover from the match, facing GSAC foe Concordia University in its conference opener on Saturday (Feb. 13) beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the Biola Tennis Center.