Willamette to Host Seattle in Men's Tennis on Friday

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

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University men's tennis tennis, which opened its spring season on Jan. 30 at Portland State University, will host its first home meet of the semester on Friday, Feb. 5, when the Bearcats take on Seattle University at the Courthouse Tennis Club (1339 Madison NE). The dual meet is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. (PST).

In the season opener, Willamette lost to Portland State of NCAA Division I, 7-0. The match was played under the 7-point scoring system used by Division I, in which the team that wins two or three doubles matches earns one "doubles point."

Willamette won #3 doubles, but Portland State won the other two doubled positions to take earn the only team point from doubles. At #3 doubles, Michael Baumgartner (Fr., Albany, OR/West Albany HS) and Luke Lagattuta (Sr., Albuquerque, NM/Highland HS) of WU defeated Matt Erickson and Jeff Cero, 8-5.

Matt Houser (Jr., Vancouver, WA/Evergreen HS) played well at #1 singles against Portland State. He lost a close match to Chris Rice, 7-5, 6-3.

The match this Friday also pits Willamette against an NCAA Division I opponent. This time, since Willamette will be at home, the Bearcats and Seattle will be using the 9-point scoring system of NCAA Division III, in which each match is worth one point in the team score.

Willamette entered the spring season following successful results in the fall. Houser and Josh Wong (Fr., Hilo, HI/Hilo HS) each advanced to the quarterfinals of the Wilson/ITA Regional. Houser and Michael Baumgartner (Fr., Albany, OR/West Albany HS) also reached the quarterfinals in doubles. The WU mens tennis team was ranked #14 in the West Region of NCAA Division III at the conclusion of the fall season.