Bruins Defeat Bearcats, 8-1, in Northwest Conference Men's Tennis

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

NEWBERG, ORE. -- A tie-breaker win at #3 doubles gave George Fox University a 3-0 lead entering singles action and started the Bruins on their way to an 8-1 victory over Willamette University in a Northwest Conference men's tennis match on Friday, April 11.

George Fox, ranked #12 in the West Region of NCAA Division III, advanced its record to 9-3 overall, 7-2 in the NWC. Willamette ended the match with a 2-11 record, including 2-7 in the NWC.

Blake Brash (So., Boise, ID/Boise HS) registered Willamette's only win of the afternoon at #4 singles, as he outlasted Chace Stalcup in two close sets, 7-5, 6-4.

The Bruins' team of Justin McClain and Chris Lilley swept past Sam Wexman (So., Tiburon, CA/Tamiscal HS) and Shrujan Kalidindi (So., Cupertino, CA/Monta Vista HS) at #1 doubles, 8-0. Stalcup and Preston Mann of GFU downed Gunnar Lee (So., Hilo, HI/St. Joseph HS) and Jack Schreiber (Jr., Solana Beach, CA/The Grauer School) in #2 doubles, 8-3.

At #3 doubles, Brash and Will Cooper (Sr., Gresham, OR/Centennial HS) of Willamette took on Mitchell Miyashiro and Nick Grafton. The match was tied at 8-8, forcing a tie-breaker. Miyashiro and Grafton edged out Brash and Cooper in the tie-breaker, 7-4.

McClain won a tight first set over Wexman before winning #1 doubles, 7-5, 6-2. At #2 doubles, Lilley defeated Cooper, 6-3, in the first set. The second set was tied 5-5 when Cooper had to retire due to an injury.

Mann and Schreiber played three-tiebreakers at #3 singles. Mann won the first set 7-6, after claiming the first tie-breaker 11-9. Schreiber rebounded with a 7-6 (7-3) victory in the second set. A super tie-breaker was played instead of a third set, with Mann outscoring Schreiber, 10-7, to win the match.

GFU added wins by Miyashiro at #5 singles and by Andy Tweet at #6 singles. Miyashiro defeated Lee, 6-2, 6-3, while Tweet downed Kalidindi, 6-0, 6-3.

Willamette does not play on Saturday, but the Bearcats will host Pacific University on Sunday, April 13. Match time at the WU Tennis Courts is set for 1 p.m . (PDT).