Ferguson Advances to Semifinals at USTA/ITA Northwest Regional

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Cody Ferguson (Jr., North Bend, OR/North Bend HS/Western Oregon Univ.) of Willamette University has advanced to the semifinals of the USTA/ITA Men's Tennis Small College Northwest Regional being hosted by the Bearcats. Ferguson, seeded #8, defeated #3-seeded Jeff Tolman of Whitman College, 7-5, 6-4, in the quarterfinals on Sunday, Sept. 26.

Ferguson will take on Chris Bailey of Whitman, seeded #9, in the semifinals at the WU Tennis Courts on Monday (Sept. 27) at 9 a.m. (PDT). Bailey downed #5-seeded Scott Barnett from George Fox University in three sets in the quarterfinals, 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-3.

The semifinals feature Ferguson and three players from Whitman. Joining Bailey in the semifinals for Whitman are Conor Holton-Burke, seeded #6, and Andrew La Cava, seeded #16.

In the quarterfinals, Holton-Burke downed the #1 seed, Mark Magdaong of Linfield College, and La Cava defeated #13-seeded Daniel Redfern of Whitworth University. Holton-Burke edged past Magdaong, 6-0, 2-6, 6-3. La Cava moved past Redfern in two close sets, 6-4, 6-4.

Winners in the semifinals will meet for the Northwest Regional title. The champion will compete at the USTA/ITA Small College National Championships on Oct. 14-17 in Mobile, Ala.

The doubles final on Monday will be two teams from Whitman battling for the chance to advance to the National Championships. Bailey and Sam Sadeghi, unseeded, will take on Holton-Burke and La Cava, seeded #5.

Sunday's schedule included the Round of 16 and the quarterfinals in singles, plus the quarterfinals and the semifinals in doubles. The consolation singles bracket also was completed on Sunday. Nearly all of the matches were played indoors at the Courthouse Tennis Club due to the weather, with the exception of the consolation singles semifinals and finals, which were played indoors at the Salem Swim and Tennis Club.