WALLA WALLA, WASH. -- Matthew Solomon of Whitman College edged Eric MacMillan of Willamette University, 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, to lead the Missionaries to a 9-0 victory over the Bearcats on Saturday, Feb. 23. Whitman, ranked #15 nationally in NCAA Division III, improved to 5-6 overall, 5-0 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 1-4 overall, 1-3 in the NWC.
Whitman built a 3-0 lead by winning all three doubles matches. The #1 doubles match was closely contested, with Matthew Solomon and Daniel Solomon winning for the Missionaries, 8-6, over WU's team of Andrew Murakami (Jr., Wahiawa, HI/University of Redlands) and Micah Mack (So., Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS).
In singles, the battle between Matthew Solomon and MacMillan was the only three-set match. At #3 singles, the match featured two commpetitive sets, as Chris Bailey of Whitman held off Murakami, 6-3, 6-4.
Willamette has played some of the top teams in the NWC so far this season. WU's 1-3 record in the conference includes losses to the top three teams in the standings: Whitworth University (6-0 in the NWC), Whitman (5-0), Pacific Lutheran University (5-1).
The Bearcats will return to action on Friday, Feb. 2 with a home match against George Fox University. The match is scheduled for 4 p.m. (PST) at the WU Tennis Courts, but will be played indoors at the Courthouse Tennis Club at 7 p.m. (PST) if weather prevents the teams from playing outdoors.
Saturday, Feb. 23
At Bratton Tennis Center, Walla Walla, Wash.
Whitman College 9, Willamette University 0
Singles
#1 - Matthew Solomon (WTMN) defeated Eric MacMillan (WU), 6-7, 6-1, 6-3
#2 - Daniel Solomon (WTMN) defeated Matthew Houser (WU), 6-1, 6-1
#3 - Chris Bailey (WTMN) defeated Andrew Murakami (WU), 6-3, 6-4
#4 - Jake Cappel (WTMN) defeated Fitz Paccione (WU), 6-1, 6-0
#5 - Dan Wilson (WTMN) defeated Luke Lagattuta (WU), 6-1, 6-4
#6 - Nadeem Kassam (WTMN) defeated Alex Sepenzis (WU), 6-1, 6-3
Doubles
#1 - Matthew Solomon and Daniel Solomon (WTMN) defeated Murakami and Micah Mack (WU), 8-6
#2 - Cappel and Kassam (WTMN) defeated MacMillan and Houser (WU), 8-3
#3 - Justin Hayashi and Jasper Follows (WTMN) defeated Lagattuta and Sepenzis (WU), 8-2
Records: Whitman is 5-6 overall, 5-0 in the NWC (Ranked #15 in NCAA Division III); Willamette is 1-4 overall, 1-3 in the NWC
