PASADENA, Calif. – It was a tough start to Pacific Lutheran's spring break trip to California, as PLU dropped a pair of nonconference men's tennis matches to Caltech and Arizona Christian Saturday.

The Lutes opened the day against Caltech, with the Beavers knocking off PLU 8-1 as Sam Stadter claimed the lone PLU win of the match in singles competition. PLU's afternoon matchup against Arizona Christian went a little better, but the Firestorm pulled out a 6-3 win. With the losses, PLU's record falls to 1-7 overall this season. The Lutes return to action Sunday at Chapman, beginning at 11 a.m.

"I think we were a victim of facing a deeper team today and a team that is used to the elements a little bit more than we were," PLU head coach Rocky Poulin said after the Caltech match. "Doubles had some pretty tight points and tight games, but just got edged out, and Sam Stadter played very well today. He has a great game for outdoor tennis."

Lining up in the No. 1 singles slot, Stadter took down Caltech's Devashish Joshi 6-3, 6-1 before the Beavers swept the remaining five singles matches. The first and third doubles matches were close for the Lutes, as Joshi and Luka Mernik teamed up to defeat Jake Yannello and Spencer Herron 9-7 in the top matchup and Rushikesh Joshi and Morgan Lebby teamed to defeat Stadter and James Okubo 8-6 in the final match.

The Lutes took two out of three in the doubles set of the later contest. Hayden McCartney and Neal Berg teamed to take down Tyler Cawthorne and Michael Munguia 9-8, and Okubo and Stadter defeated David Castano and Adam West 8-1.

Unfortunately for PLU, the Firestorm won the first five singles matches to clinch the team win. Several were close, as two of the matches went to a third set and the second matchup required extra points. Stadter pushed Andrew Barnett before falling 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, and Berg was even closer in a 6-2, 3-6, 8-5 match against Castano. Herron gave PLU its final win of the day at No. 6 singles, taking down Adam West 6-3, 7-5.