By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- George Fox University, ranked #35 in NCAA Division III by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), downed Willamette University, 9-0, in a Northwest Conference men's tennis match at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club on Saturday, April 7. With rain and high winds in the forecast for Saturday, the match was moved indoors.

The Bruins, also ranked #8 in the West Region, took an early lead by sweeping the doubles competition. In the top doubles match, Spencer Watanabe and Williams Leach defeated Aaron Schechter (Jr., Seattle, WA/James A. Garfield HS) and Colin Fisher (So., Caldwell, ID/Thomas Jefferson Charter School) of Willamette, 8-1. At #2 doubles, GFU's team of Tristen Lerma and Sam Watt moved past Gene Perle-Jones (So., Eugene, OR/North Eugene HS) and Owen Burcham (Fr., Portland, OR/Wilson HS), 8-3. At #3, Nick Ekern and Andrew Dickson of the Bruins downed Luke Hiserman (Fr., Monterey, CA/Pacific Grove HS) and Ethan Frank (Fr., Lahaina, HI/Maui Preparatory Academy), 8-3.

Watanabe swept the first set at #1 singles on his way to a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Schechter. GFU also won the remaining singles matches in straight sets.

At #3 singles, Alex Namba received a battle from Fisher of Willamette in the first set, with Namba holding on for a 6-4 win. Namba took the second set, 6-0. At #6 singles, Lerma gained a 6-0 win in the first set, before winning a competitive second set, 6-3, against Frank from Willamette. Other singles winners for the Bruins were Leach at #2 singles, Ekern at #4 singles and Watt at #5 singles.

Willamette will be back in action on Sunday, April 8 when the Bearcats will take on Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. Match time is scheduled for 10 a.m. (PDT).