Bearcats Edge Lutes 5-4 with Close Wins at #1 Doubles and #3 Singles

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

TACOMA, Wash. -- Willamette University won #1 doubles in a tie-breaker and prevailed at #3 singles in a third set, as the Bearcats slipped past Pacific Lutheran University, 5-4, in a Northwest Conference men's tennis match on Sunday, Feb. 21. With the victory, Willamette evened its record at 1-1, while claiming a 1-0 mark to open NWC play. The Lutes fell to 0-2 overall, 0-2 in the NWC.

At #1 doubles, Willamette's team of Aaron Schechter (Fr., Seattle, WA/James A. Garfield HS) and Samuel Wexman (Sr., Tiburon, CA/Tamiscal HS) edged out James Okubo and Noel Oteng-Mensah of PLU, 9-8 in a tie-breaker. The tie-breaker, normally played until one team reaches seven points with at least a two-point lead, was eventually won by Schechter and Wexman, 11-9.

The close match at #3 singles also involved Wexman. He outlasted Oteng-Mensah, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

Action at #6 singles was decided by a 10-point super tie-breaker played instead of a third set. Chan Thourk of Pacific Lutheran won the match over Douglas Hochmuth (Jr./Fr., Oakland, CA/Bishop O'Dowd HS) of WU, 6-2, 6-7, 10-7.

PLU held a 2-1 lead after doubles. Jeremy Marsh and Marcelo Hernadnez-Gamez won for the Lutes at #2 doubles, 8-5, over Blake Brash (Sr., Boise, ID/Boise HS) and Colin Yamaguchi (Sr./Jr., Clackamas, OR/Clackamas HS). At #3 doubles, Justin deMattos and Alberto Leal of PLU defeated Derek Lund (So., Helena, MT/Capital HS) and Jesse Mackinney (So., Arcata, CA/Northcoast Prep and Performing Arts Academy), 8-5.

Brash won #1 singles for the Bearcats, as he downed Okubo, 6-2, 6-4. Yamaguchi took #4 singles for Willamette with a 6-3, 7-6 win over deMattos. Lund of WU triumphed at #5 singles against Hernandez-Gamez, 6-1, 7-5.

In addition to Thourk's win at #6 singles, the Lutes also recorded a win at #2 singles, as Marsh defeated Schechter, 6-1, 6-4.

Willamette will host Whitman College in a Northwest Conference match on Saturday, Feb. 27. Game time is set for 1 p.m. (PST).