Bearcats Pick Up 6-3 Win at Puget Sound

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

SALEM, ORE. -- It's always a challenge to win on the road, especially in conference play. The Willamette University men's tennis team picked up a solid road victory at the University of Puget Sound in a Northwest Conference match on Feb. 28, 2014, that was a key moment for the Bearcats this spring.

Willamette opened the match by winning two of the three doubles matches.

At #1 doubles Devin Abney (Sr., Jr. elig., Shoreline, WA/Shorecrest HS/Univ. of Redlands) and Will Cooper (Sr., Gresham, OR/Centennial HS) defeated the Loggers' team of Chas Stewart and John Stevens, 8-4. In #3 doubles, Shrujan Kalidindi (So., Cupertino, CA/Monta Vista HS) and Blake Brash (So., Boise, ID/Boise HS) downed Abe Noyes and Myles Rivera-Flam, 8-4.

With a 2-1 lead, the Bearcats then added victories at four of the six singles positions to win the overall match, 6-3.

Sam Wexman (So., Tiburon, CA/Tamiscal HS) provided a triumph at #1 singles over Daniel Deuel. Each competitor won a set before Wexman prevailed in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set. Wexman won the match, 6-4, 4-6, 10-5.

Willamette also won #4, #5 and #6 singles, with each Bearcat winning in straight sets.

At #4 singles, Jack Schreiber (Jr., Solana Beach, CA/The Grauer School) moved past Noyes, 6-2, 6-1. Brash won #5 singles against John Stevens, 6-3, 6-2. In the #6 singles match, Gunnar Lee (So., Hilo, HI/St. Joseph HS) gained a 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Jake Peterson.

Puget Sound earned wins at #2 and #3 singles, and at #2 doubles, but couldn't overcome Willamette's depth. The Bearcats left the UPS Tennis Pavilion with well-earned victory.