LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola put together a strong performance against a tough Occidental team on Friday night, but was unable to pull out the victory, falling 5-4 in a non-conference match at the Biola Tennis Center.

The Eagles fall to 1-4 with the loss while the Tigers improve to 3-0 overall.

Biola got off to a great start in the match, winning No. 1 and No. 3 doubles to take a 2-1 lead into singles play. It was nearly a clean sweep, but the No. 2 doubles team was narrowly edged 8-6.

Heading into the singles, the Eagles jumped up 4-1 as Weston Leopold cruised to a 6-3, 6-2 lead. However, then came a string of losses as the Tigers won five-straight matches from No. 3-No. 6 singles, clinching the victory with a win at No. 5.

Those four matches were quite close as Thomas Cobian had a point to head to a tiebreaker but couldn't fend off his opponent and lost his second set at No. 4, 7-5. Brent Worthington fought back from 4-0 deficit in the first set but couldn't pull out the win and lost at No. 3. 

Despite the overall loss already sealed, David Mossman fough back from down 3-0 in the second set to take his match at No. 2 singles.

Biola heads south to resume GSAC play on Saturday, taking on Point Loma Nazarene at 11:00 a.m.