Men's Tennis Drops Puget Sound in NWC Action, 7-2

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110 and Sara Brooks, Assistant Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6219

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University men's tennis team defeated the University of Puget Sound, 7-2, on Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Courthouse Tennis Club. Willamette improved to 3-2 overall, 3-0 in the Northwest Conference. Puget Sound fell to 0-4 overall, 0-4 in the NWC.

Michael Baumgartner (Fr., Albany, OR/West Albany HS) led the Bearcats by winning #1 singles and working with Luke Lagattuta (Sr., Albuquerque, NM/Highland HS) to earn another victory at #2 doubles.

In the top singles match, Baumgartner held off Sam Finkleman in the first set, 6-4, then swept through the second set, 6-0. In doubles, Baumgartner and Lagattuta defeated Oliver Napier and George Murphy, 8-5. The win at #2 helped WU sweep the doubles matches.

At #1 doubles, Cody Ferguson (So., North Bend, OR/North Bend HS/Western Oregon Univ.) and Joshua Wong (Fr., Hilo, HI/Hilo HS) downed Finkelman and Nick Kelley, 8-2. At #3 doubles, Matthew Houser (Jr., Vancouver, WA/Evergreen HS) and Micah Mack (Sr., Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS) won easily against Alex Harrison and Scooter Sabel, 8-2.

Willamette prevailed from #1 through #4 in singles, winning each match in straight sets. Wong did not lose a game in a 6-0, 6-0 triumph over Napier at the #3 position. Wong has lost just one game overall in three singles matches against NWC opponents this season.

Puget Sound claimed its two wins at #5 singles and #6 singles. In the #5 match, Sabel won a close first set against Lagattuta, 6-4, before winning the second set, 6-2. At #6 singles, Miller needed a tie-breaker victory in the first set on his way to defeating Nathan Ramos (So., Beaverton, OR/Beaverton HS), 7-6 (7-1), 6-2.

The Bearcats will play their third consecutive home match on Friday, Feb. 26 against Pacific Lutheran University. Match time at the Courthouse Tennis Club is scheduled for 7 p.m. (PST).

Saturday, Feb. 20
At Courthouse Tennis Club, Salem, Ore.

Willamette University 7, University of Puget Sound 2

Singles
#1 - Michael Baumgartner (WU) defeated Sam Finkleman (UPS), 6-4, 6-0
#2 - Cody Ferguson (WU) defeated Nick Kelley (UPS), 6-4, 6-2
#3 - Joshua Wong (WU) defeated Oliver Napier (UPS), 6-0, 6-0
#4 - Matthew Houser (WU) defeated Alex Harrison (UPS), 7-5, 6-4
#5 - Scooter Sabel (UPS) defeated Luke Lagattuta (WU), 6-4, 6-2
#6 - Ben Miller (UPS) defeated Nathan Ramos (WU), 7-6 (7-1), 6-2

Doubles
#1 - Ferguson and Wong (WU) defeated Finkleman and Kelley (UPS), 8-2
#2 - Baumgartner and Lagattuta (WU) defeated Napier and George Murphy (UPS), 8-5
#3 - Houser and Micah Mack (WU) defeated Harrison and Sabel (UPS), 8-2

Records:
Willamette University is 3-2 overall, 3-0 NWC. University of Puget Sound is 0-4 overall, 0-4 NWC.