Cate won four of the final six sets to draw even with Pasadena Poly on Saturday, but the Panthers clinched the non-league victory with their 75-67 advantage in games.
Five set wins for Cate came in doubles, as Shuta Kobayashi and Edward Cho won a tiebreaker in the first round. Michael Revord/Jack Hoover and Brendan Lokre/Christian Herman won two sets per team.
Rams head coach Bob Bonning called the Panthers singles lineup one of the toughest that the Rams have seen this season. Poly’s Henry Lasoya swept his three sets 6-1, 6-1, 6-1.
Cate’s Kevin Ha and Jason Xiao won their other two singles matches. Cate (2-4) begins Condor League competition at the new Laguna Blanca courts on Wednesday.
