By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Whitman College, ranked #15 in NCAA Division III, improved to 15-5 on the season and 9-0 in the Northwest Conference with a 9-0 victory over Willamette University in men's tennis action on Saturday, April 11. Willamette fell to 3-11 overall, 3-5 in the NWC.

Four of Whitman's five losses are to teams listed higher in the national rankings, and the remaining loss was to University of Idaho from NCAA Division I. The Missionaries are #4 in the West Region in the most recent rankings released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).

Whitman took a 3-0 lead in doubles after losing only one game during the three pro sets. The Missionaries won all six singles matches in straight sets, but Willamette athletes Jack Schreiber (Sr., Solana Beach, CA/The Grauer School) and Shrujan Kalidindi (Jr., Cupertino, CA/Monta Vista HS) provided solid battles at #2 singles and #4 singles, respectively.

In the #2 singles match, Jake Hoeger held off Schreiber, 6-4, 6-4. At #4 singles, Adam Rapoport defeated Kalidindi, 6-3, 6-3.

The Bearcats will remain on the road to take on Whitworth University on Sunday, April 12 in Spokane, Washington. Match time is set for 1 p.m. (PDT).