By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- The Bearcats were behind 2-1 after singles, and trailed later in the overall match 4-3, but Willamette University rallied with exciting wins at #1 and #2 singles to defeat Pacific Lutheran University, 5-4, in a Northwest Conference men's tennis match at the WU Tennis Courts on Sunday, April 3.

Willamette improved to 2-7 overall, 2-6 in the NWC. The Lutes fell to 1-11 overall, 1-7 in conference play.

Blake Brash (Sr., Boise, ID/Boise HS), playing #1 singles for the Bearcats, tied the match at 4-4 by edging past Noel Oteng-Mensah for a close two-set victory, 6-4, 7-5. Brash trailed 5-4 in the second set, before claiming three consecutive games to earn the win. His final point was scored on an overhead shot.

Aaron Schechter (Fr., Seattle, WA/James A. Garfield HS) provided Willamette with the winning team point at #2 singles when he outlasted Jeremy Marsh of PLU in a three-set battle. Schechter won the first and third sets in tie-breakers for a 7-6 (7-1), 1-6, 7-6 (7-4) win.

After Schechter claimed the first set, Marsh breezed through the second set. In the third set, Marsh led 1-0, 2-1, 3-2 and 4-3, before Schechter won two consecutive games to take a 5-4 lead. Marsh responded with two wins of his own to move back in front, 6-5. Schechter held service to tie the score and force the decisive tie-breaker.

The first three points of the tie-breaker went to Schechter, who never tailed the rest of the way. Smith pulled within 5-4 with two consecutive points, but Schechter won the next two points while serving to secure the individual win and the team victory.

Pacific Lutheran won close matches at #2 and #3 doubles to take an early lead in the overall match. Willamette prevailed at #1 doubles, as Schechter and Colin Yamaguchi (Sr./Jr., Clackamas, OR/Clackamas HS) downed James Okubo and JD Pekoc, 8-3.

At #2 doubles, PLU's team of Oteng-Mensah and Marsh outscored Brash and Samuel Wexman (Sr., Tiburon, CA/Tamiscal HS) of Willamette, 9-7. The Lutes also claimed a 9-7 win at #3 doubles, as Justin deMattos and Chan Thourk outlasted Douglas Hochmuth (Jr./Fr., Oakland, CA/Bishop O'Dowd HS) and Jesse Mackinney (So., Arcata, CA/Northcoast Prep and Performing Arts Academy).

 In addition to the wins by Brash and Schecther at #1 and #2 singles, the Bearcats also recorded singles wins at the #4 and #5 positions. In the #4 match, Yamaguchi moved past Pekoc, 6-1, 6-1. At #5 singles, Hochmuth defeated deMattos, 6-3, 6-2.

Okubo won by close margins in two sets at #3 singles to down Wexman, 6-3, 7-5. Thourk took #6 singles, 6-3, 6-3, over Mackinney.

Willamette will play its next match on Saturday, April 9 at George Fox University. Match time in Newberg, Oregon, is slated for 12 p.m. (PDT).