SAN DIEGO - The Point Loma men's tennis team came from behind to defeat Westmont 5-4 on Friday, Feb. 22. The win evens the Sea Lions' record at 3-3 on the season and drops Westmont to 3-4.

PLNU entered singles play down 2-1 but earned points at No. 2, No. 3, No. 5 and No. 6 to come from behind for the win. 

The results could have been much different had Jakob Kevelaerts at No. 3 or Kaptan Kaster at No. 6 lost their first set. Both student-athletes fell behind in the first set, but with their backs against the wall they fought back to earn the critical team point for the Sea Lions. Kevelaerts was trailing 5-4 but won each of the next three games to take the set 7-5. The freshman from Belgium would carry that momentum into the next set and take down Rodrigo Schaefer 6-1. Kaster fought back from a 6-5 deficit, including breaking the serve of Travis Kimsey, to earn the team point for PLNU with a straight set 7-6 and 6-0 victory.

Brooks Baldinger returned to action after missing the past few matches and swept John Bertram at No. 3 singles 6-4 and 6-1.

Daniel Milliken also earned another crucial team point for Point Loma at No. 5 singles with a 6-3 and 6-2 win over Nicholas Szyndlar.

"Each time out we are playing better," said head coach Rich Hills. "We have been focusing on April 1, and we want to take a step to get better every day. We are very excited to see things right on schedule."

The Sea Lions also picked up a point at No. 3 doubles when Milliken and Kaster defeated the dup of Szyndlar and Kimsey, 8-3.

The PLNU men's team will have a quick turnaround as it returns to the court Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. to face Whittier.

Point Loma 5, Westmont 4
Singles
#1: Tim Goranson (WC) def. Michael Zablan (PLNU) 7-5, 6-2
#2: Jakob Kevelaerts (PLNU) def. Rodrigo Schaefer (WC) 7-5, 6-1
#3: Brooks Baldinger (PLNU) def. John Bertram (WC) 6-4, 6-1
#4: Josh Barnard (WC) def. Bram Kevelaerts (PLNU) 6-4, 7-5
#5: Daniel Milliken (PLNU) def. Nicholas Szyndlar (WC) 6-3, 6-2
#6: Kaptan Kaster (PLNU)  def. Travis Kimsey (WC) 7-6, 6-0

Doubles
#1: John Bertram/Tim Goranson (WC) def. Bram Kevelaerts/Jakob Kevelaerts (PLNU) 8-2
#2: Rodrigo Schaefer/Joshua Barnard (WC) def. Brooks Baldinger/Michael Zablan (PLNU) 8-5
#3: Daniel Milliken/Kaptan Kaster (PLNU) def. Nicholas Szyndlar/Travis Kimsey (WC) 8-3