Avansino Wins at #3 Singles, but Bearcats Lose Non-Conference match at L&C

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. -- AJ Avansino (So., Reno, NV/Reno HS) of Willamette University won at #3 singles in a super tie-breaker over Landon Cronin of Lewis & Clark College, but the Pioneers defeated the Bearcats, 8-1, on Friday, Feb. 23 at the LC Tennis Dome. L&C improved to 4-2 on the season, while the Bearcats slipped to 0-4.

Avansino won the first set against Cronin, 7-6, in a regular tie-breaker. Avansino took the 'breaker 7-4. Cronin rallied to take the second set, 6-1. In the super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, Avansino prevailed 10-7.

The #1 doubles match was a strong competition between Velibor Mladenovic (So., Belgrade, Serbia/First Belgrade Grammar School) and Zack Olander (Fy., Bend, OR/Summit HS) of Willamette and Joey Leon and Wade McDermott. The match was won by Leon and McDermott, 8-5. L&C also won at #2 and #3 doubles.

In singles, the #2 position was decided in a super tie-breaker. McDermott outlasted Quentin Nigbur (Sr., Newberg, OR/Newberg HS) of Willamette, 4-6, 6-3, 10-6. Lyon downed Mladenovic at #2 singles, 6-1, 6-2.

Other winners in singles for L&C were Miles Stone at #4, Bennett Gazor at #5, and Spencer Loucks at #6. Loucks narrowly edged past Trey Allen (Jr., Tucson, AZ/BASIS Tucson North HS) of WU in the first set, 7-6 (7-3), before Loucks won the second set, 6-1.

The Willamette men's tennis team will play at Pacific University on Sunday, Feb. 25 in a non-conference match. The action is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. PST.