Colorado College closed out its six-match road swing through Southern California with its toughest match of the week, falling 9-0 at Pomona-Pitzer Colleges, ranked No. 17 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division III national rankings.

The Tigers got two solid performances from Nate Burt, who dropped a 6-3, 6-2 decision at No. 1 singles after he and doubles partner Lionel Zen-Ruffinen fell 8-5 in a hard-fought contest at No. 1 doubles. 

“Nate played a good match at one singles and doubles, showing that he has the game to compete at that level,” head coach Naren Clark said. “The story was pretty much the same down the line, glimpses of being in the hunt.”

Zen-Ruffinen struggled during the first set, but came within a break of extending the match before falling 6-1, 7-5. Thomas Modern fell 6-3, 6-2 at No. 4 doubles, while Zach White lost 6-2, 6-4 at No. 6 singles.

The Sagehens improved to 8-1, while Tigers slipped to 4-5 overall after posting a 2-4 record over Spring Break.

“The most frustrating part of the whole trip was recognizing that we are not out matched in talent, but in practice,” Clark said. “Competing against teams that have fall seasons and training trips exposes the fact that we simply don't play enough coming into the spring season to be where we need to be. It is not the result that is disappointing, but the fact that we have the talent to swing the result in our favor.”

Colorado College returns to action on March 26 against Division I Creighton University in Greeley, Colo.