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

FOREST GROVE, ORE. -- The Willamette University men's tennis team won two doubles matches and the top four singles matches to defeat Pacific University, 6-3, on Tuesday, April 13, as the Bearcats claimed the #3 seed for the Northwest Conference Tournament. Joshua Wong (Fr., Hilo, HI/Hilo HS) of WU led the charge with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Michael Okada at #1 singles.

Willamette concluded the regular season at 11-7 overall, including 11-5 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette tied Pacific Lutheran University for third place in the NWC standings. The Bearcats own the tie-breaker and will be the #3 seed at the NWC Tournament, April 16-17 in Yakima, Wash.

Pacific finished the season at 6-12 overall and 5-11 in the NWC. The Boxers are tied for sixth place with the University of Puget Sound (5-11), but the Loggers have the tie-breaker and will take the final NWC Tournament spot. Willamette will face Puget Sound in the first round of the tournament.

WU held a 2-1 margin heading into singles action. The win by Wong, plus triumphs by Michael Baumgartner (Fr., Albany, OR/West Albany HS) at #2 singles and Cody Ferguson (So., North Bend, OR/North Bend HS/Western Oregon Univ.) at #3 singles, gave the Bearcats a 5-1 lead to clinch the overall victory.

Matt Houser (Jr., Vancouver, WA/Evergreen HS) added a 6-2, 6-1 win at #4 singles over Hector Alcayde of Pacific to complete WU's scoring. Pacific picked up singles wins from Michael Furuya at the #5 position and from Nhat Nguyen at #6.

The Boxers also claimed a victory at #1 doubles. Spencer Hing and Patrick Kinghorn recorded the win, as they edged out Ferguson and Wong in a tie-breaker, 9-8 (7-0).

WU countered with wins at #2 and #3 doubles. In the #2 match, Houser and Micah Mack (Sr., Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS) defeated Okada and Eric Furuya, 8-4. At #3 doubles, Baumgartner and Luke Lagattuta (Sr., Albuquerque, NM/Highland HS) held off Alcayde and Scott Kawamura, 8-6.

Tuesday, April 13
At Holce Tennis Courts, Forest Grove, Ore.

Willamette University 6, Pacific University 3

Singles
#1 - Joshua Wong (WU) defeated Michael Okada (PAC), 6-4, 6-1
#2 - Michael Baumgartner (WU) defeated Spencer Hing (PAC), 6-2, 6-4
#3 - Cody Ferguson (WU) defeated Eric Furuya (PAC), 6-0, 6-2
#4 - Matthew Houser (WU) defeated Hector Alcayde (PAC), 6-2, 6-1
#5 - Michael Furuya (PAC) defeated Luke Lagattuta (WU), 6-2, 6-3
#6 - Nhat Nguyen (PAC) defeated Micah Mack (WU), 9-8 (7-4)*

Doubles
#1 - Hing and Patrick Kinghorn (PAC) defeated Wong and Ferguson (WU), 9-8 (7-0)
#2 - Houser and Mack (WU) defeated Okada and Eric Furuya (PAC), 8-4
#3 - Baumgartner and Lagattuta (WU) defeated Alcayde and Scott Kawamura (PAC), 8-6

* Pro set played instead of "regular" third set

Records:
Willamette University is 11-7 overall, 11-5 NWC. Pacific University is 6-12 overall, 5-11 NWC.