LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Feb. 7, 2008) – The day could not have been more beautiful and the outcome was just what the Occidental College Tigers had hoped for as they defeated Hope International University 5-4 at the McKinnon Family Tennis Center on the campus of Occidental College today.

Freshman Kisa Ito and Isabelle Ying managed to stave off their opponents in a 9-7 victory during doubles play to open the day. During the final two games Ito used her deep ground strokes while Ying hit sharp volleys that combined to be too much for the players on the receiving end.

Trailing 2-1 following the completion of doubles play, the Tigers battled during their singles matches. Sophomore Marissa Cassman (6-4, 6-2) and freshman Danielle Siegler (6-2, 6-1) put up wins, while Ito won by default to even things at 4-4.

The deciding match was at the hands of Taylor Kaplan who dominated Hope's MacKenna Hamel. She dropped only one game in the first set, playing very smart tennis, moving Hamel side to side and up and back, en route to a 6-1, 6-0 win. 

Oxy's next match will take place on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 2:00 p.m. when the Tigers open Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action against Cal Lutheran at the Burbank Tennis Center.