Willamette Shuts Down Linfield in Singles for 8-1 Win in Men's Tennis

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

McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- Willamette University held a 2-1 lead after doubles, and the Bearcats swept through singles, to pull away from archrival Linfield College, 8-1, in Northwest Conference men's tennis action on Sunday, April 6 at the Linfield Tennis Center. The Bearcats won all six singles matches in straight sets.

The victory moved Willamette's record to 2-10 on the season, 2-6 in the NWC. Linfield fell to 0-10 overall, 0-8 in the NWC.

WU gained its initial lead by winning #2 and #3 doubles.

In the #2 match, Jack Schreiber (Jr., Solana Beach, CA/The Grauer School) and Will Cooper (Sr., Gresham, OR/Centennial HS) outscored Micah Roos and Tim Hawkins, 8-5. At #3 doubles, Blake Brash (So., Boise, ID/Boise HS) and Shrujan Kalidindi (So., Cupertino, CA/Monta Vista HS) downed Alec Wisthoff and Nick Konen, 8-3.

The Bearcats almost swept the doubles matches, but Linfield's top team of Lukas Kleinman and Kelsey Rosborough rallied from a 7-4 deficit to edge out Sam Wexman (So., Tiburon, CA/Tamiscal HS) and Gunnar Lee (So., Hilo, HI/St. Joseph HS), 9-7.

Wexman rebounded to cruise to a win at #1 singles, 6-0, 6-0, over Roos, while Lee prevailed against Wisthoff at #5 singles, 6-3, 6-0.

Schreiber was victorious in his match with Rosborough at #2 singles, 6-2, 6-2. Cooper won the closest battle in singles, as he downed Kleinman in the #3 match, 6-4, 6-4. Brash moved past Hawkins at #4 singles, 6-0, 6-0. Kalidinidi completed the singles sweep with a 6-3, 6-2 triumph over Konen.

Willamette is scheduled to play George Fox University in Newberg, Ore., on Friday, April 11. The NWC match is slated to begin at 4 p.m. (PDT).