Despite solid singles play by the Cerritos College men’s tennis team, it dropped two of its three doubles matches in a 5-4 loss to the Amherst College Jeffs Monday.

The Falcons split their singles matches with the Jeffs and were all tied up heading into doubles play, needing to edge out their opponents in order to secure a victory.

However, the Jeffs came out on top.

“We could have prepared better for this match,” said freshman Mathew Espiritu, who bounced back from his singles defeat to earn a doubles victory alongside freshman Nathan Eshmade.

“I didn’t play as I wanted to. It was not as planned,” he added.

Cerritos College dropped its second doubles match, however, as a valiant effort by the team of sophomore Todd Jenkins and freshman Maurice Grijalva came up short with a score of 9-8.

“My footwork was still lagging,” Jenkins said. “I was dragging my feet instead of keeping them going like I should have. But that’s just a matter of practicing off the court.”

“Most definitely my footwork,” added Grijalva about the cons of his performance. “My footwork and my serve.”

Cerritos College will look to snap its three game losing streak on Thursday in an away contest versus Mt. San Antonio College.

“We have to be focused for the next match-up, said Grijalva. “Really focused.”

Game time is 2 p.m.