Whitman, Ranked #14, Downs Bearcats, 9-0

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

WALLA WALLA, WASH. -- The Whitman College men's tennis team, ranked #14 in NCAA Division III and #4 in the West Region, defeated Willamette University, 9-0, in a Northwest Conference match on Saturday, April 19. With the win, the Missionaries finished regular season with a 12-0 record in the NWC.

Whitman also improved to 17-4 overall. Willamette ended its season with a record of 2-14, including 2-10 in the NWC.

At #1 singles, Andrew La Cava of Whitman won a close first set against Will Cooper of Willamette, 6-4, before claiming the second set, 6-1. Atanas Atanasov won for Whitman at #2 singles, 6-1, 6-3, against Shrujan Kalidindi (So., Cupertino, CA/Monta Vista HS).

The #3 singles match featured a tie-breaker in the first set. Alex Noyes won the tie-breaker for the Missionaries and went on to defeat Jack Schreiber (Jr., Solana Beach, CA/The Grauer School), 7-6 (9-7), 6-1. In #4 singles, Parker Silverman downed Gunnar Lee (So., Hilo, HI/St. Joseph HS) of Willamette, 6-0, 6-2.

The Missionaries won by default at #5 and #6 singles, and at #3 doubles. Willamette was shorthanded due to injuries and academic requirements.

In the top doubles match, La Cava and Silverman downed Lee and Kalidindi, 8-2. Atanasov and Joey Diaz had to work hard to edge out Willamette's team of Cooper and Schreiber at #2 doubles, 9-7.