Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

LA MIRADA, Calif. – The Whittier College Men's Tennis team found it tough Saturday facing off against Division II Biola University, falling 4-0. 

The Purple & Gold like the ladies found it difficult playing Division II rules.  In doubles, Sam Whitehill (Brisbane, Australia) and Derek Okuhama (Tumon, Guam) found themselves in the starting lineup for the first time at No. 3 but fell 6-1 and were followed by Pim Van Der Veer (Amsterdam, Netherlands) and Thomas Davies (Wales) at No. 2 who fell 6-3.  This gave the opening point to Biola, while Maxwell Koszowski (Denver, CO) and Thomas Koszowski (Denver, CO) were still in action at 4-4 at the top spot.

In singles, Davies was the first one off at No. 3 singles falling 6-2, 6-1.  Okuhama, who clinched the winning point against UC Santa Cruz last week didn't have much luck against Quentin Lau at No. 5 falling 6-2, 6-1.  Then Whitehill, who got his first action in the starting lineup at No. 6 handed BU the crucial fourth point falling 6-3, 6-4. 

Van Der Veer was having success in singles at No. 1.  He won the opening set 6-2 and was cruising in the second at 4-1 when the match was called.  T. Koszowski was also playing tough at No. 2 holding his own with Logan Blair at 6-3, 5-5, while Matt Yanuck (Studio City, Calif.) fell in the opening frame 7-6 before falling behind 2-0 in the second.            

Whittier returns to the court next Sunday, March 3 when they travel to Claremont, Calif. to take on Christopher Newport (10:00am) and Mary Washington (3:00pm).