Seattle from NCAA Division I Edges Bearcats, 5-4

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Seattle University, which competes in NCAA Division I, slipped past the NCAA Division III Bearcats of Willamette University, 5-4, on Friday, Feb. 5 at the Courthouse Tennis Club. Willamette fell to 0-2 on the season, with both losses to Division I opponents. Seattle improved to 1-2.

The overall match was tied at 4-4 before it was decided by #6 singles. Yusuke Kanehira of Seattle rallied to defeat Luke Lagattuta (Sr., Albuquerque, NM/Highland HS) of Willamette in the #6 match, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Earlier in the afternoon, Lagattuta helped Willamette take a 2-1 lead by combining with Michael Baumgartner (Fr., Albany, OR/West Albany HS) to win #3 doubles. Lagattuta and Baumgartner edged out Zachary Williams and Kyle Rapp of Seattle, 8-6.

WU also won #2 doubles, as Cody Ferguson (So., North Bend, OR/North Bend HS/Western Oregon Univ.) and Joshua Wong (Fr., Hilo, HI/Hilo HS) defeating Patrick Boorkman and Adam Strizich, 8-5.

The Redhawks were victorious at #1 singles, with Mark Shkretbtan and Simon Meske outlasting Willamette's team of Matthew Houser (Jr., Vancouver, WA/Evergreen HS and Micah Mack (Sr., Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS), 8-4.

The #1 singles match provided the toughest battle prior to #6 singles. Seattle's top player, Shkretbtan, narrowly defeated Houser of Willamette, 7-5, in the first set. Shkretbtan prevailed in the second set, 6-2.

Meske won #2 singles for the Redhawks by downing Baumgartner, 6-4, 6-1. At #3 singles, Ferguson of WU outlasted Boorkman in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. The remaining singles victories went to Wong of Willamette at #4 and to Andrew Tran of Seattle at #5.

Willamette will return to the courts on Saturday, Feb. 13, when the Bearcats will take on George Fox University in their first Northwest Conference match of the season. The action is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. at the West Hills Racquet and Fitness Club in Portland, Ore.

Friday, Feb. 5
At Courthouse Tennis Club, Salem, Ore.

Seattle University 5, Willamette University 4

Singles
#1 - Mark Shkretbtan (SU) defeated Matthew Houser (WU), 7-5, 6-2
#2 - Simon Meski (SU) defeated Michael Baumgartner (WU), 6-4, 6-1
#3 - Cody Ferguson (WU) defeated Patrick Boorkman (SU), 6-4, 6-2
#4 - Joshua Wong (WU) defeated Adam Strizich (SU), 6-2, 6-1
#5 - Andrew Tan (SU) defeated Nathan Ramos (WU), 6-1, 6-0
#6 - Yusuke Kanehira (SU) defeated Luke Lagattuta (WU), 4-6, 6-2, 6-1

Doubles
#1 - Shkretbtan and Meske (SU) defeated Houser and Micah Mack (WU), 8-4
#2 - Ferguson and Wong (WU) defeated Boorkman and Strizich (SU), 8-5
#3 - Baumgartner and Lagattuta (WU) defeated Zachary Williams and Kyle Rapp (SU), 8-6

Records:
Seattle University is 1-2 overall. Willamette University is 0-2 overall.