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

PORTLAND, ORE. -- Willamette University stayed unbeaten in Northwest Conference men's tennis action this season by defeating Lewis & Clark College, 8-1, on Sunday, Feb. 28 at the L&C Tennis Dome. The Bearcats are 5-0 in the NWC, narrowly in front of two other undefeated teams, Linfield College at 4-0 and Whitman College at 3-0. Lewis & Clark fell to 0-7 in the conference.

Willamette, ranked #14 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association fall rankings for the NCAA Division III West Region, improved its overall record to 5-2. WU's losses were to NCAA Division I opponents Portland State University and Seattle University. L&C dropped to 0-9 on the season.

WU claimed wins in all three doubles matches and at five of the six singles positions. Michael Baumgartner (Fr., Albany, OR/West Albany HS) won #1 singles for Willamette, as he defeated Peter Ray, 6-0, 6-2.

The lone victory for Lewis & Clark was at #5 singles, where Cole Pfeiffer edged past Nathan Ramos (So., Beaverton, OR/Beaverton HS) of Willamette, 7-6 (7-23), 6-3.

Daniel McClellan (Jr., Lakewood, WA/Lakes HS) of WU recorded his first collegiate victory, as he defeated Kerry White of L&C at #6 singles in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-6).

WU's top doubles team of Cody Ferguson (So., North Bend, OR/North Bend HS/Western Oregon Univ.) and Joshua Wong (Fr., Hilo, HI/Hilo HS) easily won #1 doubles over Peter Ray and Quinn Roth-Carter, 8-1.

The Bearcats will return to the courts on Friday, March 5, when they will take on Whitworth University in a Northwest Conference match in Spokane, Wash. Match time is slated for 4 p.m. (PST).

Sunday, Feb. 28
At L&C Tennis Dome, Portland, Ore.

Willamette University 8, Lewis & Clark College 1

Singles
#1 - Michael Baumgartner (WU) defeated Peter Ray (L&C), 6-0, 6-2
#2 - Joshua Wong (WU) defeated Junya Furakawa (L&C), 6-0, 6-2
#3 - Luke Lagattuta (WU) defeated Wataru Nakamura (L&C), 6-2, 6-2
#4 - Micah Mack (WU) defeated Quinn Roth-Carter (L&C), 6-1, 6-0
#5 - Cole Pfeiffer (L&C) defeated Nathan Ramos (WU), 7-6 (7-2), 6-3
#6 - Daniel McClelland (WU) defeated Kerry White (L&C), 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-6)*

Doubles
#1 - Cody Ferguson and Wong (WU) defeated Ray and Roth-Carter (L&C), 8-1
#2 - Baumgartner and Lagattuta (WU) defeated Furakawa and Nakamura (L&C), 8-6
#3 - Houser and Micah Mack (WU) defeated Andrew Davey and White (L&C), 8-1

* Tie-breaker played instead of a third set

Records:
Willamette University is 5-2 overall, 5-0 NWC. Lewis & Clark College is 0-9 overall, 0-7 NWC.