YAKIMA, WASH. -- Linfield College fell behind in the doubles matches, but earned wins at the bottom four singles positions, to take a 5-4 victory over Willamette University for third place at the Northwest Conference Tennis Championships on Saturday, April 21. Linfield concluded its season at 15-12, while Willamette finished the year at 10-12.
Willamette gained a 2-1 lead over Linfield with wins at #1 doubles and #2 doubles. Eric MacMillan (Jr., Twin Falls, ID/Twin Falls HS) and Shaun Mihalick (Sr., Mukilteo, WA/Eastlake HS) edged Wes Gabrielsen and Kyle Anderson at #1 doubles, 9-7, while Donovan LeDoux (Fr., Keizer, OR/McNary HS) and Micah Mack (Fr., Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS) won a close match at #2 doubles, 8-6, over Linfield's Ian McGrath and Jon Roberts. Linfield was victorious at #3 doubles, as Nick Reuss and Cole Shelton defeated Ethan Heinrich (Fr., San Carlos, CA/Davis HS) and Geoff Klein (Jr., Sagle, ID/Sandpoint HS), 8-0.
The Bearcats received wins from LeDoux at #1 singles and from MacMillan #2 singles, but the Wildcats won the remaining singles matches. LeDoux downed Ian McGrath in three sets, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3. MacMillan also went three sets to defeat Gabrielsen, 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-4.
All four of Linfield's singles victories were in straight sets. Reuss led the way at #3 singles with a 6-2, 6-0 triumph over Fitz Paccione (Jr., Encinitas, CA/Cathedral Catholic).
Pacific Lutheran University won the men's team title. The Lutes defeated Whitman College, 6-3, in the championship match.
NWC Championships
Third Place Match
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Linfield College 5, Willamette University 4
Singles
#1 - Donovan LeDoux (WU) defeated Ian McGrath (LC), 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
#2 - Eric MacMillan (WU) defeated Wes Gabrielsen (LC), 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-4
#3 - Nick Reuss (LC) defeated Fitz Paccione (WU), 6-2, 6-0
#4 - Jon Roberts (LC) defeated Shaun Mihalick (WU), 6-1, 6-4
#5 - Kyle Anderson (LC) defeated Micah Mack (WU), 6-2, 6-1
#6 - Jed Rembold (LC) defeated Ethan Heinrich (WU), 6-0, 6-4
Doubles
#1 - MacMillan and Mihalick (WU) defeated Gabrielsen and Anderson (LC), 9-7
#2 - LeDoux and Mack (WU) defeated McGrath and Roberts (LC), 8-6
#3 - Reuss and Cole Shelton (LC) defeated Heinrich and Geoff Klein (WU), 8-0
Records: Willamette is 10-12; Linfield is 15-12.
