LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola opened up the 2013 tennis season with a hard-fought first match, but despite battling through a nearly three-hour match, the Eagles lost 9-0 to the University of La Verne.

The Eagles (0-1) best match of the afternoon came at No. 5 singles where sophomore Lauren Vogel battled in a three-set loss to Megan Soucy of La Verne. After losing the first set 6-1, Vogel battled back and took the second set 6-4. In a hard-fought third set, Vogel battled hard but lost 6-4.

"I thought the players played with good intensity, hustled and stayed in points well," said Biola Coach Dee Henry. "They kept their composure well. As players gain experience they will start recognizing how it is that the opponents are getting their points which will in turn give us a better plan going in to the next point."

Biola will get a chance to put Coach Henry's words into practice next on Friday, Feb. 8, as the Eagles travel a bit north to face Whittier College in a 3:00 p.m. match.