Forest Grove, OR - Willamette Men's Tennis opened up their season this weekend by playing a series of singles and doubles matches against competitors from Linfield, Pacific, and Lewis & Clark, as the teams prepare for next weekend's Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Regional.

On day one, AJ Avansino won both of his matches, defeating Spencer Loucks from Lewis & Clark by a score of 5-7, 6-2, 10-7, and Bridger Galyardt of Lewis & Clark 6-3, 6-2.  Jake Freeland and Bailey Livingood each split their first two sets with their opponents before losing their match tie-breakers.  Freeland won the first set 7-6 against Nick Moore from Lewis & Clark before losing 6-2, 10-8.  Livingood lost his first set to Gaven Soriano of Pacific, battled back to take the second set 6-4, but dropped the set tie-breaker 10-6.  Other Bearcats competing in singles on day one were Zack Olander, Adam Son, and Andre Leif.

Day two winners for the Bearcats were Andre Lief with a 7-6, 6-2 victory over Wyatt Zagyva from Linfield and a couple of match wins in doubles.  Avansino and Olander partnered to defeat Matous Young and Abhi Acharya from Linfield 8-6 and Luca Casano teamed up with Bailey Livingood for a 8-5 win over Zagyva and Tommy Gabrielsen from Linfield.

The Bearcats will return to the court on Friday, September 20th, for the first day of the ITA Regionals hosted by George Fox University.