Bearcats Fall to NWC Leaders from Whitman, 9-0

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

WALLA WALLA, WASH. -- Whitman College, ranked #19 in NCAA Division III, remained undefeated in the Northwest Conference with a 9-0 victory over visiting Willamette University in men's tennis action on Saturday, March 14. Willamette provided plenty of competition for the highly regarded Missionaries, who needed three sets to win the #3 singles match and required tie-breakers in sets at #2 and #5 singles.

Whitman upped its NWC record to 8-0, while improving to 9-2 on the season. Willamette fell to 5-4 in the NWC and 5-4 overall.

Matt Houser (So., Vancouver, WA/Evergreen HS) of Willamette took Jake Cappel to three sets before falling in the #3 singles match. Cappel won 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.

At #2 singles, Dan Wilson of Whitman needed a tie-breaker to take the first set from Andrew Murakami (Sr., Wahiawa, HI/Leilehua HS/Univ. of Redlands), 7-6 (7-5). Wilson won the second set, 6-2.

The #5 singles match was won by Jasper Follows of WC, who downed Micah Mack (Jr., Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS) of Willamette, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1.

In doubles, the #2 position had the closest battle, as Wilson and Justin Hayashi of Whitman edged out Cody Ferguson (Fr., North Bend, OR/North Bend HS/Western Oregon Univ.) and Mack, 8-6. Whitman also received a challenge at #1 doubles before Christopher Fuchs and Quin Miller defeated Murakami and Houser, 8-5.

March 14, 2009
At Bratton Tennis Center, Walla Walla, Wash.

Singles
#1 - Chris Bailey (WTMN) defeated Cody Ferguson (WU), 6-1, 6-2
#2 - Dan Wilson (WTMN) defeated Andrew Murakami (WU), 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
#3 - Jake Cappel (WTMN) defeated Matt Houser (WU), 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
#4 - Adriel Borshansky (WTMN) defeated Alex Sepenzis (WU), 6-0, 6-0
#5 - Jasper Follows (WTMN) defeated Micah Mack (WU), 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
#6 - Christoph Fuchs (WTMN) defeated Michael Moore (WU), 6-4, 6-3

Doubles
#1 - Fuchs and Quin Miller (WTMN) defeated Murakami and Houser (WU), 8-5
#2 - Wilson and Justin Hayashi (WTMN) defeated Ferguson and Mack (WU), 8-6
#3 - Bailey and Nadeem Kassam (WTMN) defeated Sepenzis and Jordan Helvie (WU), 8-0

Records:
Whitman College is 9-2 overall, 8-0 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette University is 5-4 overall, 5-4 in the NWC.