WHITTIER, Calif. (Feb. 19, 2023) - The Whittier College men's tennis team nearly handed Claremont-Mudd-Scripps its first SCIAC loss in 17 years on Sunday, narrowly falling 5-4 on the road.

The Poets and Stags split the six singles competitions. For the Poets, sophomore Prayag Ahire defeated his opponent in an exciting three-set affair. After losing the first set 7–5, Ahire went on to win the second set 7–6 and the third set 10–4.

Freshman Luca De Bona defeated his singles opponent in straight sets (7-6 and 6-3). Another first-year student that shined in the contest was Luuk van den Hoek, who won his competition in three sets after dropping the first set.

While the squads split the singles competitions, the Stags won two of the three double competitions. Sophomore Kieran Carroll and De Bona won the only doubles competition on the day, earning an 8–5 victory over their Stag opponents. Matthew Robinson, one of their Stags adversaries, entered the competition having won nine of his 10 doubles matches this season.

"My doubles win was very solid," Carroll said. "Crazy energy and pulled through for the upset."

De Bona too walked away from his doubles win impressed with how he and Carroll performed against a quality opponent.

"I'm really happy to start my freshman year with two SCIAC wins," De Bona said.  "With Chapman, it was a tight match, but I'm proud to have won it and proud of the team. To get two wins over a team like CMS felt great."

Carroll also used the word "proud" to describe how he felt about the Poets' performance.

"Overall, I think we can be very proud," Carroll said. "We are the underdogs of the entire SCIAC, and to come out and almost beat the 17-years-running defending champion is very impressive."

The Poets return home Wednesday, Feb. 22, to take on Linfield University at 4 p.m.

Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

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