Bearcats Defeat Pacific, 6-3, at WU Tennis Courts

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University men's tennis team defeated Pacific University, 6-3, on Friday, April 10 at the WU Tennis Courts to improve to 8-7overall. The Bearcats also moved to 8-7 in the Northwest Conference. Pacific fell to 7-12 overall, 4-11 in the NWC.

Willamette swept all three doubles matches, winning each by an 8-4 score. At #1 doubles, Cody Ferguson (Fr., North Bend, OR/North Bend HS/Western Oregon Univ.) and Matt Houser (So., Vancouver, WA/Evergreen HS) defeated Spencer Hing and Micah Leo.

The #2 doubles match was won by Andrew Murakami (Sr., Wahiawa, HI/Leilehua HS/Univ. of Redlands) and Micah Mack (Jr., Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS). At #3 doubles, Alex Sepenzis (Sr., Denver, CO/Cherry Creek HS) and Michael Moore (So., Seattle, WA/Lakeside HS) combined for the victory.

Willamette achieved wins at #2, #3 and #5 singles. Murakami triumphed at #2 over Hing, 6-3, 6-0. Houser prevailed at #3 over Leo, 6-4, 6-3, while Mack defeated Kinghorn, 6-1, 6-2, at #5.

It took a super tie-breaker to decide #1 singles, with Pacific's Michael Okada edging out Ferguson, 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 10-8. In addition to wining #1 singles, Pacific also garnered wins at #4 and #6 singles.

The Bearcats will remain at home on Saturday, April 11, when they will take on the University of Puget Sound in Willamette's final NWC match of the regular season. WU has already clinched an NWC Tournament berth and will tie Whitworth University (9-7 NWC) for fourth place with a victory over UPS.

Friday, April 10
At WU Tennis Courts, Salem, Ore.

Willamette University 6, Pacific University 3

Singles
#1 - Michael Okada (PAC) defeated Cody Ferguson (WU), 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 10-8*
#2 - Andrew Murakami (WU) defeated Spencer Hing (PAC), 6-3, 6-0
#3 - Matt Houser (WU) defeated Micah Leo (PAC), 6-4, 6-3
#4 - Eric Furuya (PAC) defeated Alex Sepenzis (WU), 6-3, 6-2
#5 - Micah Mack (WU) defeated Patrick Kinghorn (PAC), 6-1, 6-2
#6 - Nhat Nguyen (PAC) defeated Michael Moore (WU), 7-6 (7-3), 6-0

Doubles
#1 - Ferguson and Houser (WU) defeated Hing and Leo (PAC), 8-4
#2 - Murakami and Mack (WU) defeated Okada and Furuya (PAC), 8-4
#3 - Sepenzis and Moore (WU) defeated Kinghorn and Nguyen (PAC), 8-4

* Tie-breaker played instead of a third set

Records:
Willamette University is 8-7 overall, 8-7 in the Northwest Conference. Pacific University is 7-12 overall, 4-11 in the NWC.