Nationally Ranked Whitman Defeats Bearcats in Men's Tennis, 9-0

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Whitman College, ranked #17 in NCAA Division III by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), had to work hard for nearly every win, but the Missionaries remained undefeated in Northwest Conference men's tennis action with a 9-0 victory over Willamette University at the WU Tennis Courts on Saturday, Feb. 27. Whitman, now 3-2 on the season, upped its NWC mark to 3-0. Willamette slipped to 1-2 overall, 1-1 in the NWC.

The Missionaries took a 3-0 lead with a sweep of the doubles matches.

Adam Rapoport and Gary Ho outscored Aaron Schechter (Fr., Seattle, WA/James A. Garfield HS) and Samuel Wexman (Sr., Tiburon, CA/Tamiscal HS) at #1 doubles, 8-3. In the #2 doubles match, Whitman's team of Alex Noyes and Luke Targett held off Blake Brash (Sr., Boise, ID/Boise HS) and Colin Yamaguchi (Sr./Jr., Clackamas, OR/Clackamas HS), 8-6.

The #3 doubles match was won for the Missionaries by Jacob Christensen and Joey Diaz by an 8-1 score against Derek Lund (So., Helena, MT/Capital HS) and Douglas Hochmuth (Jr./Fr., Oakland, CA/Bishop O'Dowd HS).

Although WU won its share of games during the singles competition, Whitman was victorious in straight sets in five of the matches. At #4 singles, however, Yamaguchi took the first set for the Bearcats, 6-3. Trevor Fennessy of Whitman won the second set, 6-2, and defeated Yamaguchi in a super tie-breaker, 10-6, to decide the match.

Rapaport downed Schecter in the #1 singles match, 6-1, 6-3. Ho won #2 singles and Limaye prevailed at #3 singles.

The matches at #5 and #6 singles featured four competitive sets. At #5, Christensen defeated Lund, 6-3, 6-4. In the #6 match, Azur Ali outscored Hochmuth, 6-3, 6-3.

Willamette will remain at home to take on Whitworth University on Sunday, Feb. 28. The match is expected to be played indoors at the Courthouse Tennis Center, located at 1379 Madison St. NE in Salem, Oregon. Match time is set for 10 a.m. (PST).