Fullerton, CA - The Hope International men's tennis team (5-17) battled hard but they couldn't overcome the NCAA Division III Whittier College Poets as they fell 4-3 on Thursday afternoon on the road in Whittier, CA.

The Royals got off to a good start as they took the doubles points with Ricky Lizardo and Felix Hamp winning 6-2 and Yahia Elsheikh and Reid Lizardo winning 6-4. Thomas Folsom and Dylan Barrett put up a good fight but fell 7-6. It didn't matter though as the Royals took two out of three to clinch the doubles point and take a 1-0 lead. The Royals looked to continue their momentum in singles as Reid Lizardo won 6-1 and 6-3 and Elsheikh won quickly 6-2, 6-2. The Poets would battle back though as Folsom fell 6-3, 6-3 and Kento Henderson fell 6-3, 7-5. The Royals tried to finish off the match as Ricky Lizardo won the first set 6-3 but he couldn't hold on as he lost 6-4, 10-4. Barrett also took an early lead 6-3 but couldn't close it out as he fell 10-3 and 6-3 as they Royals fell in a close one 4-3. 

The Royals will continue action on the road as they will travel to San Antonio, TX for the Redf River Athletic Conference Championships that will take place from April 14-19 at Blossom Tennis Center.