WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier men's tennis team took the courts on Saturday morning at the friendly confines of the Ettinger Tennis Courts but dropped an 8-1 decision to Pomona-Pitzer in the conference opener.

The Sagehens, who are ranked No. 20 nationally and No. 6 in the West region, jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after doubles.

Following a rain delay, Pomona-Pitzer went 5-1 at singles to earn the win in the four-hour match that featured three rain delays.

The Poets came out fighting in doubles as the No. 3 team of Jonathan Pollare and Frank Sun took an early break to go up 3-2. However, the duo was unable to hold the break and ultimately lost 8-5.

The No. 2 team of Andrew Hansen and Chris Schommer fought hard to force a tiebreaker but eventually fell 9-8 (2). The No. 1 team of Julian Seneviratne and Patricio Carregha found themselves down in an early 4-1 hole and count recover as they fell 8-4.

Whittier entered singles play needed to take 5-of-6 but only got a win from Carregha at the second spot. The junior won his match decisively, 6-4, 6-4.

At No. 1, Senerviratne fell 6-0, 7-6, to nationally ranked Tommy Meyer (No. 44) and Hansen battled hard at the fourth position but fell 6-4, 6-4.

The Poets return to action next Saturday as they travel to the Burbank Tennis Center to take on Occidental at 10 am.