Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Men's Tennis team jumped right into their 2019 schedule Saturday with a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) match-up with No.12 Pomona-Pitzer.

Whittier proved a tough match-up in doubles for the Sagehens stealing a point at No. 3 from Chris Palacio (El Centro, Calif.) and Jesse Eccles (Queenstown, New Zealand).  The duo pulled off the 8-6 win keeping WC in the match.  The Koszowski brothers (Maxwell Koszowski (Denver, CO) / Thomas Koszowski (Denver, CO)) played together at the top spot for the first time but couldn't pull off the win against one of the top teams in Division III falling 8-3.  The other opportunity for the Poets came at No. 2 from newcomers Pim Van Der Veer (Amsterdam) and Thomas Davies (Wales) who pushed Starx and Bicks only to fall 8-5.

In an exhibition doubles match at No. 4, Whittier saw some positives from Derek Okuhama (Tumon, Guam) and Sam Whitehill (Brisbane, Australia) who pulled out a tough 8-6 win.  In singles, Whittier was unable to pull off a win but still proved tough.  Van Der Veer, who is in his first season fought at the top spot getting broken once each set (6-4, 6-3).  Davies, who transferred in from Cypress College played at No. 3 and faced off against Gearon and couldn't find a footing falling 6-3, 6-2. 

Matt Yanuck (Studio City, Calif.) remained at his No. 4 slot taking on Hirsohn but couldn't get into a rhythm falling 6-3, 6-1.  T. Koszowski remained in singles at No. 2 and took on Bellet but couldn't find any openings on breaks dropping in straights 6-2, 6-2.  Eccles was the final Poet who threatened the Sagehens playing at No. 6 but he too fell in straights 6-3, 6-2.            

Whittier returns to the court this evening, Monday, February 11 when they host Concordia for an exhibition match set for 5:00pm.