By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

TACOMA, Wash. -- Aaron Schechter (Jr., Seattle, WA/James A. Garfield HS) earned a win at #1 singles and combined with Colin Fisher (So., Caldwell, ID/Thomas Jefferson Charter School) to win #1 doubles, as the Bearcats downed University of Puget Sound, 6-3, in a non-conference men's tennis match on Sunday, Feb. 28. Willamette registered its first win of the season to go to 1-3 overall. Puget Sound fell to 0-4.

Schechter was victorious in two close sets at #1 singles against Joe McRoberts of Puget Sound to take a 7-5, 6-3 win. At #1 doubles, Schechter and Fisher defeated McRoberts and Riley Inn, 8-4.

The Bearcats owned a 2-1 edge after doubles on the strength of the win by Schechter and Fisher, plus a triumph by David Liang (Fr., Beijing, China/Bellevue Christian School, Wash.) and Luke Hiserman (Fr., Monterey, CAPacific Grove HS) at #3 doubles. Liang and Hiserman held off Byron Graham and Sabastian Limares, 8-5. Puget Sound prevailed at #2 doubles, with Joshua Wah-Blumberg and Lowell Hutton defeating Gene Perle-Jones (So., Eugene, ORNorth Eugene HS) and Owen Burcham (Fr., Portland, OR/Wilson HS), 8-4.

In singles play, Schechter was one of four Bearcats to register wins. At #3 singles, Perle-Jones battled back for 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Wah-Blumberg. In the #5 singles match, Liang edged out Graham in both sets to win, 6-4, 7-5. Hiserman breezed past Limares at #6 singles, 6-1, 6-2.

Puget Sound gained wins at #2 and #4 singles. In the #2 match, Inn held off Fisher in the first set, 6-4, and also took the second set, 6-2. At #4 singles, Lowell Hutton played three competitive sets with Burcham before recording a 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 victory.

The Bearcats will host Bellevue College (Wash.) in an exhibition match on Saturday, March 3. Action is set to begin at 1 p.m. (PST).