Willamette Falls to Linfield 8-1 in Men's Tennis, but Kabacy Wins #1 Singles

Andrew Kabacy (Fr., Vancouver, WA/Skyview HS)

October 7, 2018

Team Stats

Game Statistics	Willamette	Linfield
Score	1	8

Doubles

Saragoza, Nathan / Rojas, Luis def. Schechter, Aaron / Kabacy, Andrew 8-7 (8-6)
Prussing, Trent / Rutherford, Eric def. Perle-Jones, Gene / Fisher, Colin 8-6
Mangan, Jacob / Ventura, Cameron def. Pezeshki, Charles / Hiserman, Luke 8-1

Singles

Kabacy, Andrew def. Rojas, Luis 6-2 , 3-6 , 1-0 (10-5)
Saragoza, Nathan def. Perle-Jones, Gene 6-0 , 6-1
Prussing, Trent def. Fisher, Colin 6-2 , 6-4
Barcellos, J.T. def. Schechter, Aaron 6-4 , 6-3
Rutherford, Eric def. Hiserman, Luke 6-1 , 6-1
Mangan, Jacob def. Zarate, Endy 6-2 , 6-0

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Linfield College defeated Willamette University, 8-1, in a non-conference men's tennis match played indoors on Sunday, Oct. 7 at Rutschman Fieldhouse. Andrew Kabacy (Fr., Vancouver, WA/Skyview HS) of Willamette earned the only win for the Bearcats by outlasting Luis Rojas in a super tie-breaker at #1 singles. The overall victory improved Linfield to 1-0, while Willamette fell to 0-3.

Kabacy won the first set 6-2, but Rojas answered with a 6-3 win in the second set. Kabacy prevailed in the super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, 10-5.

The meeting between the Bearcats and the Wildcats began with the doubles competition. Linfield gained significant momentum by winning all three doubles matches, including two by narrow margins.

At #1 doubles, Linfield's team of Nathan Saragoza and Rojas downed Kabacy and Aaron Schechter (Sr., Seattle, WA/James A. Garfield HS) of Willamette in a tie-breaker, 8-7 (8-6). Using new scoring rules for a pro-set, the match advanced to the tie-breaker following a 7-7 tie, rather than at 8-8.

Trent Prussing and Eric Rutherford won #2 doubles for the Wildcats by outscoring Gene Perle-Jones (Jr., Eugene, OR/North Eugene HS) and Colin Fisher (Jr., Caldwell, ID/Thomas Jefferson Charter School) of WU, 8-6. In the #3 doubles match, Jacob Mangan and Cameron Ventura downed Luke Hiserman (So., Monterey, CA/Pacific Grove HS) and Charles Pezeshki (Fr., Pullman, WA/Pullman HS), 8-1.

"We started out competitive in doubles, but just couldn't finish with wins at #1 and #2," Willamette Head Coach Rick Woods said. "That took a little wind out of us, but I'm happy we had a few matches this fall. The team plans on working hard in the offseason and and be ready for the spring season."

Linfield won the #2 through #5 singles matches. Saragoza defeated Perle-Jones at #2 singles, 6-0, 6-1. Prussing was challenged by Fisher at #3 singles before Prussing claimed a 6-2, 6-4 win. At #4 singles, J.T. Barcellos moved past Schechter in a pair of competitive sets, 6-4, 6-3. Also winning for the Wildcats were Rutherford at #5 singles and Mangan at #6 singles.

The match concluded Willamette's fall schedule. The Bearcats will return to action during the spring semester.

Andrew Kabacy (Fr., Vancouver, WA/Skyview HS)

Big Moment of the Match for Willamette

Andrew Kabacy of Willamette took the first set and
Luis Rojas of Linfield won the second set, sending their
#1 singles match into a decisive super tie-breaker.
Kabacy trailed by a mini-break early in the tie-breaker,
but countered with six or seven consecutive points,
and then earned return winners to close out the match.
Kabacy won the super tie-breaker 10-5.