The men’s tennis team entered last week’s three-match series hoping that a change of scenery would have a positive impact on its slow start to the season. However, not even a four-day, three-match trip to California could break Villanova’s sluggish start.

The Wildcats’ first opponent was UC Irvine in Coto de Caza, Calif., on March 5. The Anteaters dominated the match from the beginning, winning all three doubles matchups along with the first four singles matches. Villanova’s only victory of the match came in the fifth singles slot with junior Scott Fahrendorf defeating UC Irving’s Zac Tsai in three sets. Although sophomore Brian Maher’s match also went to three sets, he was unable to pull off a win. Villanova fell to the Anteaters by a score of 6-1.

Villanova’s second match of the California trip came two days later versus No. 5-ranked Vanguard University. While the ‘Cats were able to muster two points against their opponent, they eventually lost to the Lions by a score of 7-2. The third doubles pairing, Charlie Farmer and John Magliano, overcame Vanguard’s Gregory Chavalier and Garrett Gillion in a thrilling 9-7 victory to notch Villanova’s first point of the meeting. The fifth singles match was also a bright spot for the Wildcats. Freshman Brett Tobin tallied the Wildcats’ second point with a victory over Thomas Frank by a score of 6-4, 6-3.

The ‘Cats did not have much time to dwell on their defeats earlier in the week, as their concluding West Coast match occurred the next day, against UC Riverside. Villanova’s spring season woes would not come to an end in Riverside, however. The Wildcats were not able to pick up any points against the Highlanders, dropping the match 7-0 and falling to 0-6 on the season. Fahrendorf’s No. 3 singles match was the most competitive of the afternoon, as he was the only Villanova player to win a set during the meet.

Despite its slow start to the season, Villanova will have ample time to prepare for its next match. It will be the Wildcats’ spring debut in Villanova’s West Campus Tennis Complex. The home opener is slated to be against Lehigh University on Tuesday starting at 2:30 p.m.