Linfield Defeats Willamette in Battle of Undefeated Teams

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Linfield College won four of six singles matches on its way to a 6-3 victory over Willamette University in a Northwest Conference men's tennis match on Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Courthouse Tennis Club. Linfield improved to 4-0 on the season, 4-0 in the NWC. Willamette, which lost for the first time this year, dropped to 2-1 overall, 2-1 in the NWC.

Andrew Murakami (Sr., Wahiawa, HI/Univ. of Redlands) from Willamette won #1 singles in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, over Nick Ruess. Cody Ferguson (Fr., North Bend, OR/Western Oregon Univ.) also won for Willamette, defeating Ward Van Mens, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, in the #3 singles match.

Linfield took a 2-1 lead in doubles, with all three matches played in pro sets decided by 8-6 scores. At #1 doubles, Ruess and Van Mens defeated Murakami and Matt Houser (So., Vancouver, WA/Evergreen HS).

WU claimed #2 doubles, as Ferguson and Micah Mack (Jr., Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS) downed Kyle Anderson and Tal DeWitt. Linfield's team of Luke Rembold and Mark Magdaong prevailed at #3 doubles over Alex Sepenzis (Sr., Denver, CO/Cherry Creek HS) and Michael Moore (So., Seatlte, WA/Lakeside HS).

The teams split the singles matches, with three positions decided in three sets. Ferguson's win for WU at #3 singles was one of the three-set matches. The other two were won by Linfield. DeWitt rallied past Mack, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 at #4 singles. Brent Kingzett defeated Michael Moore at #6 singles, 6-3, 5-7, 6-0.

Willamette will play at Pacific University on Saturday, Feb. 28. Match time is scheduled for 6 p.m. (PST).

Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009
At Courthouse Tennis Club, Salem, Ore.

Singles
#1 - Andrew Murakami (WU) defeated Nick Ruess (LIN), 6-3, 6-2
#2 - Kyle Anderson (LIN) defeated Matt Houser (WU), 6-2, 6-0
#3 - Cody Ferguson (WU) defeated Ward Van Mens (LIN), 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
#4 - Tal DeWitt (LIN) defeated Micah Mack (WU), 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2
#5 - Mark Magdaong (LIN) defeated Alex Sepenzis (WU), 6-0, 6-0
#6 - Brent Kingzett (LIN) defeated Michael Moore (WU), 6-3, 5-7, 6-0

Doubles
#1 - Ruess and Van Mens (LIN) defeated Murakami and Houser (WU), 8-6
#2 - Ferguson and Mack (WU) defeated Anderson and DeWitt (LIN), 8-6
#3 - Magdaong and Luke Rembold (LIN) defeated Sepenzis and Moore (WU), 8-6

Records:
Linfield College is 4-0 overall, 4-0 in the NWC. Willamette University is 2-1 overall, 2-1 in the NWC.