SAN DIEGO --- Biola Men's Tennis nearly grabbed its second road victory against a PacWest opponent on Saturday. The Point Loma Sea Lions, who handled Biola by a score of 7-2 in 2018, had to orchestrate escapes in both doubles and singles to earn a narrow 4-2 victory on their home courts after the Eagles charged in singles.
Both teams knew they would be in for a battle when neither side would give in an inch during the doubles play that opened the dual match. The tandem of
Derek James and
Erik Martinez continued their resurgence with their second win at No. 2 doubles in as many matches, earning a 6-4 victory that made the No. 1 flight the decisive result. But unfortunately for
David Goodman's group, Point Loma delivered the big shots when it mattered to take the opening point.
The team of
David Garcia and
Edwyn Ramos, who came into Saturday with a 4-1 record together, lost a close decision 6-4. And then with the point on the line and tied 5-5,
Logan Blair and
Quentin Lau were unable to hold serve as the Sea Lions took two-straight games for the 7-5 victory.
That result didn't shake the Eagles' mindset in the slightest, though. Biola took the first set on four of the singles courts to put the Sea Lions' feet, flippers (?), to the fire. Junior
Derek James raced through his singles match with a score of 6-4, 6-2 to tie the dual match at 1-1 after the first singles match.
That win concludes a perfect week for James, who won all three of his doubles matches and all three of his singles fixtures in straight-sets to push his undefeated record in singles to 7-0.
Shortly thereafter,
Logan Blair re-tied the dual match at 2-2 when he defeated Yuki Okamato love, four for his fourth singles win in a row. But two straight-set singles wins in response from Point Loma and wins in the second and third set at the No. 4 singles contest from Scott Wheeler clinched the match for the home team.
The Eagles may have their chance at recompense with Point Loma at the PacWest Championships in April. But until then they have four matches next week, beginning with a home contest against Colorado Mesa on Monday.
