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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University rolled past George Fox University in a Northwest Conference men's tennis match, 8-1, on Friday, March 12 at the Courthouse Tennis Club. The Bearcats moved their overall record to 7-3, while improving to 7-1 in the NWC. George Fox dropped to 2-7 overall, 1-7 in the NWC.

Willamette built a 3-0 lead in doubles. Michael Baumgartner (Fr., Albany, OR/West Albany HS) and Matthew Houser (Jr., Vancouver, WA/Evergreen HS) took the #1 doubles match, 8-2, over Pedro Munoz and Juan Munoz.

At #2 doubles, Cody Ferguson (So., North Bend, OR/North Bend HS/Western Oregon Univ.) and Joshua Wong (Fr., Hilo, HI/Hilo HS) downed Scott Barnett and Nick Jenness of GFU, 8-4. At #3 doubles, WU seniors Luke Lagattuta (Albuquerque, NM/Highland HS) and Micah Mack (Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS) fell behind 2-1 before rallying for an 8-3 win over Matthew Gardner and Luke Pritchard.

GFU picked up its only win at #1 singles, as Scott Barnett edged out Baumgartner in a super tie-breaker after each player won a set. Baumgartner prevailed in the first set, 7-5. Barnett claimed the second set in a regular tie-breaker, 7-6 (7-2), before winning the super tie-breaker, 10-7.

The Bearcats swept the remaining singles matches. Wong led Willamette's string of wins with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Pedro Munoz at #2 singles.

Ferguson at #3 singles and Houser at #4 singles triumphed quickly, as Ferguson lost just one game and Houser lost two. At #5 singles, Lagattuta had to win a close first set over Gardner before pulling away for a 7-5, 6-0 win. At #6, Mack achieved a 6-0 win in the first set, then outlasted Pritchard in the second set, 6-4.

Willamette will play at Linfield College (6-1, 6-0 NWC) on Saturday, March 13. Match time in McMinnville, Ore., is set for 1 p.m. (PST). Linfield has indoor courts, so the match will be held on campus regardless of the weather conditions.

Friday, March 12
At Courthouse Tennis Club, Salem, Ore.

Willamette University 8, George Fox University 1

Singles
#1 - Scott Barnett (GFU) defeated Michael Baumgartner (WU), 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 1-0 (10-7)*
#2 - Josh Wong (WU) defeated Pedro Munoz (GFU), 6-0, 6-0
#3 - Cody Ferguson (WU) defeated Juan Munoz (GFU), 6-1, 6-0
#4 - Matthew Houser (WU) defeated Nick Jenness (GFU), 6-2, 6-0
#5 - Luke Lagattuta (WU) defeated Matthew Gardner (GFU), 7-5, 6-0
#6 - Micah Mack (WU) defeated Luke Pritchard (GFU), 6-0, 6-4

Doubles
#1 - Baumgartner and Houser (WU) defeated Pedro Munoz and Juan Munoz (GFU), 8-2
#2 - Ferguson and Wong (WU) defeated Barnett and Jenness (GFU), 8-4
#3 - Lagattuta and Mack (WU) defeated Gardner and Pritchard (GFU), 8-3

* Tie-breaker played instead of a third set

Records:
Willamette University is 7-3 overall, 7-1 NWC. George Fox University is 2-7 overall, 1-7 NWC.