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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University won two of three doubles matches, then split the six single matches, to defeat Lewis & Clark College, 5-4, in Northwest Conference men's tennis action, Saturday, April 5 at the Tennis Dome on the L&C campus in Portland, Ore. Willamette upped its record to 6-8 on the season, including 6-7 in the NWC. The Pioneers fell to 4-15 overall, 3-13 in the conference.

WU built its early lead with wins at #2 and #3 doubles. In the #2 match, Fitz Paccionie (Sr., Encinitas, CA/Cathedral Catholic) and Luke Lagattuta (So., Albuquerque, NM/Highland HS) defeated Andrew Moller and Peter Ray, 8-4. At #3 doubles, Matt Houser (Fr., Vancouver, WA/Evergreen HS) and Alex Sepenzis (Jr., Denver, CO/Cherry Creek HS) prevailed over Luke Wheeler and Adam Rager, 8-4.

Eric MacMillan (Sr., Twin Falls, ID/Twin Falls HS) paced the WU attack in singles, as he defeated George Allen of LC&, 6-2, 7-5. Andrew Murakami (Jr., Wahiawa, HI/University of Redlands) won #3 singles for the Bearcats with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-0) victory over Dirk Frouws. Houser triumphed for WU at #4 singles, 6-2, 6-3, over Moller.

L&C won #1 doubles and also earned wins at #2, #5 and #6 singles. The top doubles match was won by Allen and Frouws over MacMillan and Murakami, 8-5. Ray registered L&C's victory at #5 singles, while Rager won for the Pioneers at #6 singles.

Willamette plays its next match at Green River Community College in an exhibition on Friday, April 11. Match time is set for 5 p.m. (PDT) in Auburn, Wash.