SPOKANE, WASH. -- The Willamette University mens tennis team opened its spring season with a 7-2 win over Whitworth College on Friday, Feb. 16 in Spokane, Wash. Willamette won #1 and #3 doubles, then claimed victories in five of six singles flights. It was a significant early season win for the Bearcats, who lost to Whitworth twice in 2006, with the Pirates finishing fifth in the NWC regular season standings and the Bearcats finishing sixth.
Willamettes victory began with Eric MacMillan and Donovan LeDoux winning #1 doubles, 8-2, over Whitworths Ed Anegon and Ben Works. Whitworth was victorious at #2 doubles, as Michael Carlson and Scott Donnell slipped past Micah Mack and Shaun Mihalick, 8-5. Fitz Paccione and Geoff Klein of Willamette won #3 doubles, 8-6, over Colin Storm and Kellen Oetgen.
LeDoux gave the Bearcats a win at #1 singles, as he defeated Anegon, 6-4, 6-2. MacMillan and Carlson battled at #2 singles, with MacMillan pulling out a triumph for Willamette, 6-7, 7-5, 10-7. MacMillan and Carlson played a 10-point tie-breaker instead of third set. Another tie-breaker was needed in Mihalicks win for WU at #4 singles over Scott Donnell of Whitworth. Mihalick prevailed, 6-3, 1-6, 11-9. Whitworth won the remaining closely contested match, as Austin Abelar outlasted Mack of Willamette, 6-1, 2-6, 10-8, at #5 singles.
Willamette will play two matches on Saturday, Feb. 17 to complete the Bearcats season-opening road trip. Both matches will be held on the campus of Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash. The Cats will open the day against Colorado College, starting at 9 a.m. (PST). Willamette will close out the doubleheader against Whitman College at 1 p.m. (PST).
Friday, Feb., 16, 2007
At North Park Racquet Club, Spokane, Wash.
Willamette University 7, Whitworth College 2
Singles
#1 - Donovan LeDoux (WU) defeated Ed Anegon (WHTW) 6-4, 6-2
#2 - Eric MacMillan (WU) defeated Michael Carlson (WHTW) 6-7, 7-5, (10-7)*
#3 - Fitz Paccione (WU) defeated Ben Works (WHTW) 6-1, 6-4
#4 - Shaun Mihalick (WU) defeated Scott Donnell (WHTW) 6-3, 1-6, (11-9)*
#5 - Austin Abelar (WHTW) defeated Micah Mack (WU) 6-1, 2-6, (10-8)*
#6 - Geoff Klein (WU) defeated Colin Storm (WHTW) 6-4, 6-0
Doubles
#1 - MacMillan and LeDoux (WU) defeated Anegon and Works (WHTW) 8-2
#2 - Carlson and Donnell (WHTW) defeated Mack and Mihalick (WU) 8-5
#3 - Paccione and Klein (WU) defeated Storm and Kellen Oetgen (WHTW) 8-6
* 10-point tie-breaker played instead of third set
Records: Willamette University, 1-0 overall, 1-0 NWC; Whitworth College, 0-4 overall, 0-2 NWC
