Box Score WALLA WALLA, Wash. - The Whitman College women's tennis team opened the season with a hard-fought battle against UC Santa Cruz, coming up short to the Banana Slugs 5-4 on Sunday morning at the Whitman Tennis Courts.

The matchup between regional powers was as advertised. The contest came down to No. 4 singles where UCSC's Tanner Rowland rallied to beat Erica Mock 5-7, 6-2, 6-4.

The Blues had to rally as a team after dropping two of the three doubles matches. Jules Thompson and Grace Carter fell 8-5 at the three before the pair of Illina Jha and Sascha Wells dropped their No. 2 doubles match 8-4.

Jin Yu and Teleya Blunt came through at the one to salvage a point heading to singles play. The Whitman duo took down Sara Beckman and Natalie Sprenger to keep the Blues in the hunt.

Singles got underway with Yu quickly leveling the score with a 6-4, 6-0 win at the one over Beckman. Chloe Wu then put the Slugs back out in front with a win at the five, but Jha again drew the Blues even again with a straight-set win at the two.

After a win by Blunt at third singles and a loss at the six from Wells, the match came down to the No. 4 court, the only match to go three sets.

The match concludes the fall season for the Blues who now look ahead to next spring's championship season.