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

WALLA WALLA, WASH. -- Whitman College defeated visiting Willamette University, 7-2, on Saturday, March 6, in a men's tennis match between undefeated teams in the Northwest Conference. Whitman, ranked #25 in NCAA Division III, improved its record to 5-1 overall, 4-0 in the NWC, while Willamette moved to 6-3 overall 6-1 in the NWC.

Michael Baumgartner (Fr., Albany, OR/West Albany HS) of Willamette defeated Whitman's top player, Matt Solomon, at #1 singles. Solomon was ranked #11 in the nation and #3 in the West Region in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) fall rankings for NCAA Division III. Baumgartner won the first set in a tie-breaker, 7-6 (7-5), and dropped the second set, 4-6, before claiming the match with a triumph in the third set, 6-3.

It was Baumgartner's second upset win in a little over a week. He defeated Joel Trudel of Pacific Lutheran University, 6-3, 6-3, in Willamette's team victory over the Lutes on Feb. 26.

Willamette's second win against Whitman on Saturday was at #3 singles, where Joshua Wong (Fr., Hilo, HI/Hilo HS) defeated Etienne Moshevich, 6-2, 6-4. Whitman prevailed in all three doubles matches, to go with a win at #2 singles plus victories at #4 through #6 singles.

At #1 doubles, Solomon and Moshevich defeated Baumgartner and Wong, 8-3. The #2 doubles match was won by Quin Miller and Christoph Fuchs over Matthew Houser (Jr., Vancouver, WA/Evergreen HS) and Micah Mack (Sr., Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS), 8-2.

Jeff Tolman of Whitman needed three sets to defeat Cody Ferguson (So., North Bend, OR/North Bend HS/Western Oregon Univ.) at #2 singles. Tolman slipped past Ferguson in a first-set tie-breaker, 7-6 (7-2). Ferguson blanked Tolman for a 6-0 win in the second set. Tolman recovered to claim the third set, 6-4.

Willamette will return home to host George Fox University on Friday, March 12. Match time at the WU Tennis Courts in Salem, Ore., is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. (PST).

Saturday, March 6
At Whitman Outdoor Courts, Walla Walla, Wash.

Whitman College 7, Willamette University 2

Singles
#1 - Michael Baumgartner (WU) defeated Matt Solomon (WTMN), 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-3
#2 - Jeff Tolman (WTMN) defeated Cody Ferguson (WU), 7-6 (7-2), 0-6, 6-4
#3 - Joshua Wong (WU) defeated Etienne Moshevich (WTMN), 6-2, 6-4
#4 - Chris Bailey (WTMN) defeated Matthew Houser (WU), 6-0, 6-2
#5 - Christoph Fuchs (WTMN) defeated Luke Lagattuta (WU), 6-2, 6-0
#6 - Sam Sadeghi (WTMN) defeated Mica Mack (WU), 6-0, 6-0

Doubles
#1 - Moshevich and Solomon (WTMN) defeated Baumgartner and Wong (WU), 8-3
#2 - Quin Miller and Fuchs (WTMN) defeated Mack and Houser (WU), 8-2
#3 - Jake Cappel and Tolman (WTMN) defeated Lagattuta and Ferguson (WU), 8-0

Records:
Whitman College is 5-1 overall, 4-0 NWC. Willamette University is 6-3 overall, 6-1 NWC.