By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

EUGENE, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's tennis team was defeated by the University of Oregon Club team, 7-2, on Sunday, March 4. The U of O Club won all three doubles matches and then won four of six singles matches. The result does not change Willamette's win-loss record because the NCAA does not count matches against club teams.

Gene Perle-Jones (So., Eugene, OR/North Eugene HS) and Colin Fisher (So., Caldwell, ID/Thomas Jefferson Charter School) registered Willamette's two wins in singles play. Perle-Jones defeated E. Gee in two close set, 7-5, 6-3, at #2 singles. Fisher held off S. Ingle in straight sets for a 6-4-6-3 victory at #3 singles.

At #1 doubles, Bruno Homedes and J. Sabarots from the U of O Club downed Aaron Schechter (Jr., Seattle, WA/James A. Garfield HS) and Fisher, 8-5. In the #2 doubles match, Ingle and J. Johnson defeated Perle-Jones and Owen Burcham (Fr., Portland, OR/Wilson HS) of Willamette, 8-3. M. Scott and W. Tierney won for the U of O Club at #3 doubles, as they moved past Luke Hiserman (Fr., Monterey, CA/Pacific Grove HS) and David Liang (Fr., Beijing, China/Bellevue Christian School, Wash.), 8-2.

In the top singles match, Isaac Leve of the O of O Club won against Schechter of Willamette, 6-2, 6-0. Other winners for the U of O Club in singles were Tierney at #4, G. Burnham at #5, and Johnson at #6.

Willamette will play its first Northwest Conference match of the season on Saturday, March 10, when the Bearcats host University of Puget Sound. Match time in Salem, Oregon, is set for 12 p.m. (PST).