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

SALEM, ORE. -- The Whitman College men's tennis team remained undefeated in Northwest Conference action with a 9-0 victory over Willamette University on Wednesday, March 18 at the WU Tennis Courts. Whitman, now 10-0 in the conference, improved to 12-2 overall. Willamette dropped to 5-5, with all 10 matches against NWC opponents.

Whitman didn't lose a match on Wednesday, but the Missionaries had to go to three sets at the top two singles positions. In the #1 singles match, Chris Bailey of Whitman rallied past Cody Ferguson (Fr., North Bend, OR/North Bend HS/Western Oregon University) , 1-6, 6-1, 6-1.

At #2 singles, Dan Wilson of Whitman won the first set, 6-2, but Andrew Murakami (Sr., Wahiawa, HI/Leilehua HS/University of Redlands) of Willamette took the second set, 6-4. Wilson won the match by outlasting Murakami in the third set, 6-4. The Missionaries won #3 singles through #6 singles in straight sets.

Whitman, ranked #21 in NCAA Division III, swept through the doubles matches for a 3-0 lead. Quin Miller and Christoph Fuchs defeated Willamette's team of Murakami and Matt Houser (So., Vancouver, WA/Evergreen HS) at #1 doubles, 8-1.

The Bearcats will return to action on Saturday, March 21 at Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore. Match time is set for 1 p.m. (PDT). Linfield defeated Willamette, 6-3, at the Courthouse Tennis Club in Salem, Ore., on Feb. 21.