By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Pacific University won a close match at #1 doubles on its way to a 9-0 victory over Willamette University in Northwest Conference men's tennis action at the Hulce Tennis Courts on Sunday, April 8. The Boxers, ranked #10 in the West Region of NCAA Division III by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), advanced its record to 9-4 overall and to 5-1 in the NWC. Willamette moved to 2-9 overall, 1-6 in the NWC.
Winning the #1 doubles match for Pacific were Oscar Wight and Rayden Murata, who downed Aaron Schechter (Jr., Seattle, WA/James A. Garfield HS) and Colin Fisher (So., Caldwell, ID/Thomas Jefferson Charter School) of Willamette, 8-6. At #2 singles, Jonathan Chung and Sage Katayama won for the Boxers against Gene Perle-Jones (So., Eugene, OR/North Eugene HS) and Owen Burcham (Fr., Portland, ORWilson HS), 8-4. In the #3 doubles match, Sean Murphy and Ford Nakagawa of Pacific won versus Luke Hiserman (Fr., Monterey, CAPacific Grove HS) and Ethan Frank (Fr., Lahaina, HI/Maui Preparatory Academy) of WU, 8-1.
The Boxers grabbed six wins in straight sets during singles, but the win by Griffin Fraser at #3 singles required him to hold off Fisher in both sets. Fraser took the match, 6-4, 6-3.
At #4 singles, Joey Balleweg swept the first set, before edging out Burcham in the second set for a 6-0, 6-4 win. Also winning for the Boxers were Wight at #1 singles, Riley Boyden at #2 singles, Katayama at #5 singles and Felix Zinke at #6 singles.
Willamette will close out the season with two matches next weekend. On Saturday, April 14, the Bearcats will host Linfield College at 10 a.m. (PDT). On Sunday, April 15, WU will travel to Portland, Oregon, to take on Lewis & Clark College at 11 a.m.