By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

LAKEWOOD, Wash. -- Gene Perle-Jones (So., Eugene, OR/North Eugene HS) and David Liang (Fr., Beijing, China/Bellevue Christian School, Wash.) each won a singles match for Willamette University, but Pacific Lutheran University defeated the Bearcats, 7-2, in non-conference action on Saturday, Feb. 24 at the Lakewood Racquet Club. PLU advanced to 2-2 on the season, while Willamette fell to 0-3.

The Lutes will meet the Bearcats again in two weeks for a Northwest Conference match on Saturday, March 10 in Salem, Oregon. That match will be played outdoors at the Willamette University Tennis Courts if weather permits.

Pacific Lutheran swept all three doubles matches on its way to the win this weekend. The #3 doubles match was the closest, as John Woelfel and Brandon Near held off Willamette's team of Liang and Luke Hiserman (Fr., Monterey, CA/Pacific Grove HS), 8-6. At #1 doubles, Niko Convento and Jake Kim of PLU downed Aaron Schechter (Jr., Seattle, WA/James A. Garfield HS) and Colin Fisher (So., Caldwell, IDThomas Jefferson Charter School), 8-3. At #2 doubles, the Lutes' team of Justin DeMattos and Chan Thourk defeated Perle-Jones and Owen Burcham of WU, 8-1.

Perle-Jones won #3 singles for the Bearcats. he held off Kim in the first set, 6-4, and then took the second set, 6-2. Liang needed a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set to complete a rally against Near. Liang prevailed, 4-6, 6-1, 10-6.

The Lutes claimed victories at #1, #2, #4 and #6 singles in straight sets. The #1 singles match was won by Convento, who defeated Schechter, 6-1, 6-1.

Willamette will take on University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, on Sunday, Feb. 25. Match time is set for 11 a.m. (PST).