LA MIRADA, Calif. --- After almost nine months without any NAIA competition the Biola Men's Tennis team had to begin its 2016 schedule with one of the toughest opponents imaginable, No. 6 San Diego Christian.
 
The Hawks came to the Biola Tennis Center on Saturday afternoon to face Head Coach Brent Worthington's team as the preseason favorite to win the Golden State Athletic Conference.
 
They looked every bit as good as most people think in a 9-0 victory over the Eagles on a steamy, sunny Southern California day. Do not be fooled by the final score as Biola, which is receiving votes to break into the top-25, played a good team very, very well, especially in doubles.
 
"What I'm most proud of today is the attitude and confidence our team showed," said Worthington. "We believed we could win and if we continue to prepare and show up for matches the way we did today we are going to have a successful season."
 
The doubles play was fantastic in all three matches as Biola looked ready to play in three intense matchups with the talented and experienced San Diego Christian pairings.
 
Worthington paired up Lucas Lee and Luke Mountain at No. 1 doubles, where they pushed hard in a 5-8 loss. Then, Philip Westwood and Joe Turnquist nearly upset the Hawks' pairing at No. 2 in a 7-9 battle. Finally, David Garcia and Michael Vartuli also turned in a very good effort in a 6-8 loss.

"I was really proud of our doubles today," said Worthington. "The guys came out with lots of energy and focus and played three really tight doubles sets. Even though the scores didn't go our way we had our opportunities and will learn from not converting them today for our future matches."
 
The grueling doubles matches seemed to have taken a toll on this young Biola squad. The Eagles did not hang in quite as close in singles against a SDC team that already had one match win under its belt coming into today.
 
The Hawks clinched the match at 5-0 once the No. 1 battle between Westwood and Brendan Aguilar finished at 1-6; 1-6. That was the second singles match to finish play and sealed the deal to give SDC a win to open GSAC play.
 
Biola falls to 0-1 to begin the season, but the team has a chance for redemption this coming Tuesday when they host former GSAC member Concordia for a late-afternoon match.