By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications, (503) 370-6110
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University built a 2-1 lead in doubles, but Whitworth University rallied during the singles matches to defeat the Bearcats, 7-2, in Northwest Conference men's tennis action on Saturday, May 1 at the WU Tennis Courts. The Bearcats earned wins at #1 and #3 doubles.
Whitworth advanced its record to 5-12 on the season, 4-4 in the NWC. Willamette moved to 0-12 overall, 0-8 in the NWC.
At #1 doubles, Willamette's duo of Andrew Kabacy (Jr., Vancouver, WA/Skyview HS) and Gene Perle-Jones (Sr., Eugene, OR/North Eugene HS) outlasted Ethan Vilette and Nathan Tjelle of Whitworth in a tie-breaker, 8-7 (7-3). In the #3 doubles match, Luke Hiserman (Sr., Monterey, CA/Pacific Grove HS) and Jordan Megiveron (So., Edmonds, WA/Edmonds-Woodway HS) of WU downed Brendan Archer and Ethan Warring, 8-6. The Pirates won #2 doubles as Kincaid Norris and Jonathan Hutley downed Quentin Nigbur (So., Newberg, OR/Newberg HS) and Andrew Kropp (So., Bend, OR/Summit HS), 8-2.
Violette slipped past Kabacy in a tight match at #1 singles that included a tie-breaker in the first set and ultimately advanced to a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set. Violette took the opening set, 7-6 (10-8). Kabacy grabbed the second set, 6-0. Violette won the super tie-breaker, 10-6.
Norris outscored Perle-Jones, 6-4, 6-4, at #2 singles, while Hutley defeated Nigburg, 6-4, 6-1 at #3 singles. In the #4 singles match, Tjelle prevailed against Hiserman, 6-2, 6-1. Cameron Brewer of Whitworth won a close first set at #5 singles against Kropp before winning the match, 6-4, 6-0. At #6 singles Archer downed Megiveron, 6-3, 6-1.
Willamette and Whitworth will play again at the WU Tennis Courts on Sunday, May 2. The match is set to begin at 10 a.m. (PDT).