By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
NEWBERG, Ore. -- George Fox University, ranked #27 in the nation in NCAA Division III by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), downed Willamette University, 9-0, on Saturday, April 13 in a Northwest Conference men's tennis match. The Bruins, also ranked #8 in the West Region, advanced their record to 10-7 on the season, 6-1 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 1-11 overall, 1-4 in the NWC.
The Bruins' team of Will Leach and Keaton Baker downed Andrew Kabacy (Fr., Vancouver, WA/Skyview HS) and Aaron Schechter (Sr., Seattle, WA/James A. Garfield HS) of Willamette at #1 doubles, 8-3. Luke Lemaitre and Alex Namba took #2 doubles against WU's Colin Fisher (Jr., Caldwell, ID/Thomas Jefferson Charter School) and Gene Perle-Jones (Jr., Eugene, OR/North Eugene HS), 8-3. Payton Namba snf Yhirtty Van Os won #3 doubles for the Bruins.
Schechter at #2 singles provided Leach with a tough first set. Leach won 6-4, and then grabbed a 6-1 victory in the second set. Fisher was a difficult opponent for Alex Namba at #3 singles, foricng Namba to hold on for a 6-4 win in the first set. Namba won the second set, 6-2.
Also winning singles matches for George Fox in straight sets were Lemaitre at the #1 position, Payton Namba at #4, Jonah Wafula at #5 and Pete Gibson at #6.
Willamette will host Lewis & Clark College on Sunday, April 14. The match will likely be played indoors at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club. Action is set to begin at 11 a.m. (PDT).