By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The non-conference men's tennis match between Willamette University and Pacific Lutheran University held on Sunday, Feb. 9 at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club ended unfinished due to time constraints. All three doubles matches and four of the six singles matches were completed before play concluded. The Lutes held a 4-3 lead in completed matches, but the Bearcats were leading in the two matches that were still in progress.

It is unlikely that the match will be finished later this year. Willamette remained 1-0 on the season and Pacific Lutheran remained 0-1. The teams will play a Northwest Conference match on March 14 in Tacoma, Washington.

On Sunday, Andrew Kabacy (So., Vancouver, WA/Skyview HS) of Willamette won #1 singles and combined with Quentin Nigbur (Fy., Newberg, OR/Newberg HS) to triumph at #2 doubles. Kabacy defeated Ryan Adams, 6-4, 6-3, in the #1 singles match. Kabacy and Nigbur outlasted PLU's team of Adams and Jame Kim at #2 doubles, 8-6.

The Lutes grabbed a 2-1 lead before the overall match entered singles play by earning victories at #1 and #3 doubles. In #1 doubles, Michael Campbell and Hampus Pers Eliasson rallied from a 6-3 deficit to down Colin Fisher (Sr., Caldwell, ID/Thomas Jefferson Charter School) and Gene Perle-Jones (Sr., Eugene, OR/North Eugene HS) of Willamette, 8-6. Pacific Lutheran's win at #3 doubles also was gained by an 8-6 score, as Derek Stone and Branson Near rallied past Luke Hiserman (Jr., Monterey, CA/Pacific Grove HS) and Andrew Kropp (Fy, Bend, OR/Summit HS).

Before play ended, the Bearcats registered Kabacy's win at #1 singles, plus a win by Hiserman at #5 singles. Hiserman won two close sets, as he held off Alex Richter in the first set, 6-3, and then won the second set in a tie-breaker, 7-6 (7-3). PLU picked up two wins in singles, as Eliasson defeated Perle-Jones in the #3 match, 6-0, 6-2, and Stone took a close second set to down Nigbur, 6-2, 6-4.

The two matches that were not completed were very competitive. At #2 singles, Fisher led for the Bearcats, 6-2, 4-6, 4-1 over Campbell from PLU. At #6 singles, WU first-year player Andrew Kropp (Bend, OR/Summit HS) won the first set over Near, 7-6, at the end of a lengthy 16-14 tie-breaker, before play was concluded.

Willamette will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 22 with an exhibition match in Corvallis, Oregon, against the Oregon State University club team. Match time is set for 10 a.m. (PST).