Colorado College dropped a 7-2 decision against Montana State University Billings on Thursday afternoon in a match that was much closer than the final score indicates.

Playing in windy conditions that produced gusts more than 40 miles per hour, the difference in the match came down to one break in seven sets, of which three were won by the Tigers.

Nate Burt and Lionel Zen-Ruffinen posted an 8-4 victory at No. 1 doubles, but an 8-6 loss by Evan Jonker and Thomas Modern at No. 2 foreshadowed what was to come in singles play.

Modern was literally two points away from posting a victory at No. 3 singles, but came out on the wrong side of a 6-4, 7-5 decision. Zach White lost 6-4, 6-3 at No. 5 singles, while Jonker lost by a 6-3, 6-3 count at No. 2.

Sam Barnard lost 10-8 in a first-set tiebreaker and fell 7-6, 6-2 at No. 6 singles.

The only right spot for CC during the individual matches was at No. 4 singles where Zach White squared his singles record at 5-5 with a 6-4, 6-4 victory.

“Overall, we fought hard in singles, battling both the conditions and a much improved Montana State Billings,” head coach Naren Clark said. “The trend of close matches being decided by only a few key points continues as we struggle to find our confidence as a winning team.”

Colorado College returns to action next Wednesday at Metropolitan State College of Denver.