By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Gene Perle-Jones (Jr., Eugene, OR/North Eugene HS) of Willamette University won #4 singles in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, but Linfield College won a doubles match in a regular tie-breaker and Nathan Saragoza of Linfield took #2 singles in a super tie-breaker, as the Wildcats defeated the Bearcats, 8-1, on Saturday, April 20. Linfield advanced its record to 8-7 overall and to 4-4 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette ended the match at 1-13 overall, 1-6 in the NWC.
The #1 doubles match was highly competitive, with WU's team of Andrew Kabacy (Fr., Vancouver, WA/Skyview HS) and Aaron Schechter (Sr., Seattle, WA/James A. Garfield HS) pushing Linfield's team of Luis Rojas and Nathan Saragoza into a tie-breaker. Rojas and Saragoza won the tie-breaker for an 8-7 (7-4) win.
At #2 doubles, J.T. Barcellos and Eric Rutherford won for the Wildcats, as they outscored Perle-Jones and Colin Fisher (Jr., Caldwell, ID/Thomas Jefferson Charter School), 8-3. Also winning in doubles for Linfield were Trent Prussing and Cameron Ventura at the #3 position.
The win by Perle-Jones of Willamette at #4 singles began with Bercellos claiming a 6-0 win in the first set. Perle-Jones responded by winning the second set, 6-4, an dthen won the super tie-breaker, 10-7. In the close match at #2 singles, Saragoza of Linfield outlasted Schechter, 5-7, 7-5, 11-9.
Kabacy Played well, but couldn't catch Rojas at #1 singles. Rojas prevailed, 6-3 and 6-2. Other winners in singles for the Wildcats were Prussing at #3, Jacob Mangan at #5 and Rutherford at #6.
Willamette will close out the season with Senior Day at the WU Tennis Courts on Sunday, April 21, when the Bearcats will take on Pacific University. The match is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. (PDT).
Big Moment of the Match for Willamette
Gene Perle-Jones battled back from one set down to defeat
J.T. Barcellos at #4 singles in a super tie-breaker played instead
of a first set. Perle-Jones prevailed, 0-6, 6-4, 10-7.