A challenging week in Cathedral City, California, came to an end for the No. 12 Washington University in St. Louis men’s tennis team as they faced off against No. 8 Swarthmore. Adverse weather conditions had already disrupted their planned schedule, and the match against Swarthmore concluded their journey in California with a tough 5-2 defeat on Friday afternoon. The Bears showed resilience but ultimately fell short in several key matchups.

In the doubles segment, WashU found success at number two through the efforts of senior Eric Kuo and junior Colin Fox, who secured a decisive 6-3 victory. However, Swarthmore's dominance in the other doubles matches handed them the crucial first point. Transitioning into singles play, Swarthmore maintained their momentum with victories in the top, third, and fourth positions. Junior Case Fagan provided some relief for WashU by claiming a straight-set win at number five, while Kuo added another triumph at number two singles after a closely contested tiebreak scenario.

Looking ahead, WashU has a brief respite before taking on North Central at the Tao Tennis Center on campus. Scheduled for Saturday, March 22, this home game offers the Bears a chance to regroup and demonstrate improved performance. The players will aim to channel their recent experiences into positive outcomes, focusing on strategies that can help them overcome past setbacks. Through perseverance and determination, the team remains optimistic about their future prospects.