FULLERTON – Hope International men's tennis battled Irvine Valley College, coming up just short in a 4-3 loss on Thursday at the Fullerton Tennis Center.

The Royals lost all three matches in doubles as the Lasers claimed the point. 

In singles play, the Royals earned three points, highlighted by victories in the middle of the lineup. Kaito Henderson boasted a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Richard Petery at No. 3. In a competitive match at No. 4, Sebastien Dizon Perez outlasted Nevin McCann by scores of 6-3, 2-6, 12-10.

HIU's Kento Henderson picked up a point for the home team as he prevailed 7-5, 6-0 at No. 5 over Bradley Yung.

The Royals were on the unfortunate end of a tiebreaker at No. 6. Mohamed El Sheikh took his counterpart Jonathan Hinkel down to the wire, falling 6-4, 6-7 (12), 10-6.

The other two matches were also tight. Neuman won a 7-6, 7-5 battle at No. 1 against Karan Srivastava, while Reid Lizardo dropped a 7-6, 6-2 decision at No. 2 to Steven Anderson.

The Royals are now 1-3 on the season.

HIU hosts Whittier College on Friday at noon at the Fullerton Tennis Center.

Doubles

1. Philip Neuman/Steven Anderson (IVC) def. Reid Lizardo/Karan Srivastava (HIU) – 6-4

2. Bradley Yung/Nevin McCann (IVC) def. Kaito Henderson/Kento Henderson (HIU) – 6-4

3. Jonathan Hinkel/Richard Petery (IVC) def. Dylan Barrett/Sebastien Dizon Perez (HIU) – 6-0

Singles

1. Philip Neuman (IVC) def. Karan Srivastava (HIU) – 7-6, 7-5

2. Steven Anderson (IVC) def. Reid Lizardo (HIU) – 7-6, 6-2

3. Kaito Henderson (HIU) def. Richard Petery (IVC) – 6-1, 6-4

4. Sebastien Dizon Perez (HIU) def. Nevin McCann (IVC) – 6-3, 2-6, 12-10

5. Kento Henderson (HIU) def. Bradley Yung (IVC) – 7-5, 6-0

6. Jonathan Hinkel (IVC) def. Mohamed El Sheikh (HIU) 6-4, 6-7 (12), 10-6