Wong Defeats Coffey of Hawaii-Hilo at #1 Singles

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

HONOLULU, HAWAII -- Joshua Wong (Jr., Hilo, HI/Hilo HS) of Willamette University won #1 singles in a match against his hometown team for the Bearcats' lone win in an 8-1 loss to the University of Hawaii-Hilo on Sunday night, March 25, at the Central Oahu Regional Park.

Wong defeated Ryan Coffey, who is tied for #11 in the West Region of NCAA Division II, by a solid 6-2, 6-2 score. Wong played in front of about 60 family and friends, many making the short flight from Hilo to Oahu.

Hawaii-Hilo, ranked #45 in the nation and #5 in the West Region of Division II, improved to 3-6 on the season. Willamette dropped to 3-6 overall.

Wong and doubles partner Cody Ferguson (Sr., North Bend, OR/North Bend HS/Western Oregon Univ.) also gave Coffey and Kaito Mizutani a great battle at #1 doubles. Coffey and Mizutani, ranked #4 in the West Region, outlasted Wong and Ferguson, 8-6. The Vulcans also won #2 and #3 doubles for a 3-0 lead in the overall match.

Although Wong registered the only win in singles for Willamette, Ferguson and Garrett Vincent (So., Seattle, WA/Seattle Prep/Bellevue CC) also played well. At #2 singles, Ferguson lost two close sets to Mizutani, ranked #19 in the West Region, 6-4, 6-4. Vincent was defeated by Kallen Mizuguchi at #3 singles, 6-3, 6-4.

Will Cooper (So., Gresham, OR/Centennial HS) played a very competitive first set before falling to Michael Gillespie, 6-4, 6-0. Jack Schreiber (Fr., Solana Beach, CA/The Grauer School) played a strong second set in a 6-0, 6-3 loss to Michael Tavares at #6 singles. Thomas Dols of Hawaii-Hilo defeated Will Agnew-Svoboda (So., Corvallis, OR/Corvallis HS) at #5 singles, 6-1, 6-1.

The Bearcats will conclude their trip to Hawaii with a pair of matches against Brigham Young University-Hawaii on Monday, March 26 and Tuesday, March 27. Match time is set for 2 p.m. (HST)/5 p.m. (PDT) both days.