LOS ANGELES, Calif., -- The LMU men's tennis team put up a fight in its first dual match of the season Sunday afternoon, but the Lions couldn't hold on, as they fell to Fresno State 4-3. 

"We knew this team would ne tough, if I had to pick, they would probably be favored to win their conference," said head coach Tom Lloyd. "We were a product of  our circumstances, if anything . Not that's an excuse, or anything, but the most glaring thing you can see it that we didn't get enough reps."
 
The Lions set the tone in doubles play when Nick Borchenko and Diego Nava beat the Bulldog's Cem Erturk and Cagatay Soke 6-2 on court one. Ethan Prost and Thien Nguyen beat Henrique Osorio and Zdenek Derkas on court three 6-3, giving LMU the doubles point.
 
Up 1-0, going into singles play, Fresno State tied things up on court one when Mantas Bugailiskis beat Lucas Moreno on court four 6-2, 6-4. The Lions took the lead again after Nava pushed Osorio to three sets and came out with the win on court three, 3-6, 6-1, 6-0.
 
Derkas defeated Lukas Moenter on court one, 6-4, 6-4, tying things back up, but Borchenko forced another lead change after he beat Angus Bradshaw in three sets 7(7)-6(5), 3-6, 6-4 on court two.
 
Max Kaiser tied pushed Jeremy Moser to three sets on court five, but fell 6(1)-7(6), 6-1, 6-2. Tied again, Austin Di Giulio and Soke went neck and neck in both sets, but Soke clinched the match, winning 7(7)-6(5), 7(6)-6(1).
 
The Lions will hit the road next week to take on TCU.