LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- It felt like a winning day for the Eagles right from the opening serve on Tuesday afternoon at Occidental College.
 
The early part of the season has been a big struggle for Head Coach Dee Henry's squad as they've been held without a win up until this point (0-7).
 
The story played out much differently on Tuesday though, as it was clear which team was in control throughout the entire nearly four hour match. The Eagles picked up their first win of the year with a 7-2 dismantling of the Tigers (0-2).
 
"They dictated the play in doubles and dominated in singles," said Henry. "More importantly, they played with dignity and treated their opponents with respect."
 
The day was excruciatingly long for both sides of the ball, because Occidental only had access to four courts to hold the nine different matches.
 
The Eagles showed tremendous resolve in overcoming a lot of sitting around to remain hot and keep themselves in every point in order to secure the win.
 
Biola ran right through the singles competition, winning each of the top four contests, and picking up another point in the No. 6 matchup. Their five points in singles would have been enough to seal the match win, but they continued to play well with wins in two of the three doubles contests as well.
 
Katherine Ashford and Madeline Heer set a fine example and No. 1 and No. 2 singles, each taking at least one of their two winning sets with a 6-0 score. Ashford defeated Oxy's No. 1 in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, and Heer took down the second player with a 6-2, 6-0 mark.
 
"Kat hit solid strokes and mixed up her patterns to force errors from her opponent," said Henry. "Madeline's match was full of solid strokes and well-placed serves."
 
Susan Carmichael, Kelsey Post and Olivia Carreon played well to get the other three points in singles play for Biola.
 
Ashford and Carmichael put their wits together to play the best doubles match of the season for the Eagles at the No. 2 match.

The two sophomores battled with the Tigers' Hannnah Munkacsi and Millie Kreitlow, and were able to shut them out in an 8-0 display of power and precision.
 
"They patiently, but solidly, played the points looking for a chance to finish off the opponent. They did just that," said Henry.
 
Biola improves to 1-7 on the season after the confidence-boosting win and will face University of the Southwest at the Biola Tennis Center on Friday.