SALEM, ORE. -- Joshua Wong (Jr., Hilo, HI/Hilo HS) and Cody Ferguson (Sr., North Bend, OR/North Bend HS/Western Oregon Univ.) prevailed for Willamette University at #1 and #2 singles as well as #1 doubles, but George Fox University triumphed in the remaining matches, as the Bruins defeated the Bearcats, 6-3, in Northwest Conference action on Friday, March 30.
The competition was moved indoors at the Courthouse Tennis Center due to the rain. George Fox evened its record at 7-7, while improving to 6-3 in the NWC. The Bruins are ranked #12 in the West Region of NCAA Division III. Willamette dropped to 3-9 overall, 3-5 in the NWC.
Wong was victorious at #1 singles against Preston Mann of GFU, 6-3, 6-3. Ferguson provided another win for Willamette when he moved past Shawn Aldrich at #2 singles, 6-1, 6-2. Aldrich entered the match with a 6-2 record against NWC opponents.
At #1 doubles, Wong and Ferguson downed Mann and Aldrich, 8-3.
Wong completed a week of solid play at the #1 position in both singles and doubles. "Josh played great all week," Willamette Head Coach Toby Krauel said. "He played some very talented and experienced players during the week and competed very well."
Earlier in the week on March 25, Wong downed Ryan Coffee from the University of Hawaii-Hilo, 6-2, 6-2. Coffey was ranked #11 in the West Region of NCAA Division II.
Against Brigham Young University-Hawaii one day later, Wong trailed Yevhen Zakharov by a score of 5-4 when the match was stopped after BYU-Hawaii clinched the overall team victory. Zakharov was ranked #3 in the West Region of NCAA Division II. Willamette, which competes in NCAA Division III, was playing up one level of competition during the Spring Break trip.
During Friday's match with GFU, the Bruins claimed wins at #2 and #3 doubles.
In the #2 match, Peter Brown and Justin McClain defeated Will Cooper (So., Gresham, OR/Centennial HS) and Cameron Thompson (Jr., Torrance, CA/North Torrance HS), 8-3. At #3 doubles, Drew Milton and David Munoz shut out Garrett Vincent (So., Seattle, WA/Seattle Prep/Bellevue CC) and Jack Schreiber (Fr., Solana Beach, CA/The Grauer School), 8-0.
Willamette was unable to complete a comeback during the singles matches, even though Wong and Ferguson provided the Bearcats with wins at the top two positions.
George Fox won #3, #4, #5 and #6 singles in straight sets. The closest battle in singles was in the #4 match, where Milton outlasted Cooper, 6-4, 6-4. Other winners for the Bruins were McClain at #3 singles, Munoz at #5 singles and and Andy Tweet at #6 singles.
The Bearcats will return to action on Tuesday, March 3 with an NWC match at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore. Match time is set for 3:30 p.m. (PDT).
Joshua Wong of Willamette defeated Preston Mann from GFU, 6-3, 6-3, at #1 singles.
