Willamette Falls to NCAA Division I Opponent Santa Clara in Men's Tennis

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

SANTA CLARA, CALIF. -- The Willamette University men's tennis team lost to Santa Clara University from NCAA Division I, 7-0, on Friday, March 28, as the Bearcats completed their Spring Break Trip to California.

Santa Clara, which competes in the West Coast Conference, extended it record to 11-4 on the season. Willamette, which is a member of NCAA Division III and the Northwest Conference, fell to 1-9 overall.

The Division I scoring system (7 team points) was used, in which one point is provided to the team winning at least two doubles matches, plus one point for each victory in singles.

In doubles, Santa Clara prevailed in all three matches to claim the doubles point. At #1 doubles, the Broncos' team of John Lamble and Ilya Osintsev defeated Will Cooper (Sr., Gresham, OR/Centennial HS) and Devin Abney (Jr., Shoreline, WA/Shorecrest HS/Univ. of Redlands) of Willamette, 8-1.

Led by a victory from Ashot Khacharyan at #1 singles, the Broncos swept all of the singles matches. Khacharyan downed Sam Wexman (So., Tiburon, CA/Tamiscal HS), 6-0, 6-2. At #2 singles, Cooper stayed close in the first set against Mikheil Khmiadashvilli, before losing 6-3, 6-0.

Other winners in singles for Santa Clara were Sam Bertram at the #3 position, Jesse Ross at #4, Michael Tjuatjadarma at #5 and Logan Chun at #6.

Willamette will return to Northwest Conference action on Saturday, April 5, when the Bearcats will host Pacific Lutheran University. Match time at the WU Tennis Courts in Salem, Ore., is set for 1 p.m. (PDT).