Nate Burt and Zach White won their singles matches, but Chapman University prevailed in the other four and pulled away for a 6-3 victory on Friday afternoon on Orange, Calif.

White combined with Thomas Modern to earn an 8-5 victory at No. 3 doubles, but the Tigers trailed going into singles play for just the second time this season after Burt and Lionel Zen-Ruffinen fell by the same score at No. 1 doubles.

“We started the doubles with good energy and very evenly matched, but as the games wore on Chapman began edging us out in a few key points,” head coach Naren Clark said. “Overall, we played pretty solid doubles, just missing a few key returns or put-away volleys that could have swung the score in our direction.”

Burt battled back at No. 1 singles to post a 6-7, 7-6, 10-8 victory, but Zen-Ruffinen wasn't as fortunate at No. 3 singles and came out on the short end of a 6-3, 6-4 decision.

“Nate played a very steady match at number one,” Clark said. “He started strong and was looking to roll through his opponent easily, but dropped a 5-2 lead in the first set and was edged out in first-set tiebreaker. He showed great maturity and patience in the second set taking it all the way to another tiebreaker and forcing a third set super tiebreaker.”

White added CC's final point by posting a 6-4, 7-6(5) victory at No. 6 singles to improve his individual record to 3-1.

“Zach hung tough and won the final match,” Clark said. “While the final score doesn't necessarily reflect the closeness of the match, we were outplayed on a few key points that allowed for Chapman to take the victory.”

Colorado College slipped to 3-2 overall and 1-1 against Division III competition.

The Tigers face Whittier College on Saturday in the third of six matches during their Spring Break trip in Southern California.