NEWBERG, ORE. -- Willamette University won all six singles matches as the Bearcats defeated George Fox University, 8-1, in a Northwest Conference match on Sunday, April 13. The Bearcats upped their record to 7-9 overall and to 7-8 in the NWC. George Fox dropped to 2-16 overall, including 2-13 in the NWC.
Eric MacMillan (Sr., Twin Falls, ID/Twin Falls HS) led the way at #1 singles with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Mac Ovenell. The closest match in singles was at the #5 position, where Matt Houser (Fr., Vancouver, WA/Evergreen HS) of Willamette downed Shawn McKenzie, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4.
At #1 doubles, Willamette's team of MacMillan and Andrew Murakami (Jr., Wahiawa, HI/University of Redlands) defeated Ovenell and Jordon Vargas, 8-5. WU also earned a victory at #3 doubles, as Fitz Paccione (Sr., Encinitas, CA/Cathedral Catholic) shut out Scott Porter and Ryan Wilson, 8-0.
The Bruins' only win was at #2 doubles. McKenzie and Nick Jenness won the match, defeating Houser and Alex Sepenzis (Jr., Denver, CO/Cherry Creek HS) of Willamette, 8-4.
With the win, the Bearcats moved into sole possession of fifth place in the NWC standings with a one-half match lead over the University of Puget Sound. Willamette must win its final regular season match this afternoon to gain the #5 seed in the NWC Tournament, set for April 18-19 in Yakima, Wash. This afternoon's match will be against Pacific University at the WU Tennis Courts, starting at 2 p.m. (PDT).
Sunday, April 13
At George Fox University, Newberg, Ore.
Willamette University 8, George Fox University 1
Singles
#1 - Eric MacMillan (WU) defeated Mac Ovenell (GFU), 6-3, 6-0
#2 - Micah Mack (WU) defeated Ralf Schulz (GFU), 6-3, 6-1
#3 - Andrew Murakami (WU) defeated Nick Jenness (GFU), 6-1, 6-0
#4 - Fitz Paccione (WU) defeated Jordon Vargas (GFU), 6-4, 6-2
#5 - Matt Houser (WU) defeated Shawn McKenzie (GFU), 7-6 (8-6), 6-4
#6 - Alex Sepenzis (WU) defeated Billy Johnson (GFU), 6-4, 6-0
Doubles
#1 - MacMillan and Murakami (WU) defeated Ovenell and Vargas (GFU), 8-5
#2 - Jenness and McKenzie (GFU) defeated Houser and Sepenzis (WU), 8-4
#3 - Paccione and Lagattuta (WU) defeated Scott Porter and Ryan Wilson (GFU), 8-0
Records: Willamette is 7-9 overall, 7-8 in the NWC; George Fox is 2-16 overall, 2-13 in the NWC.
Andrew Murakami earned wins at #3 singles and #1 doubles against George Fox.
