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

OJAI, CALIF. -- Joshua Wong (Fr., Hilo, HI/Hilo HS) of Willamette University advanced into the Round of 16 in the Men's NCAA Division III Singles bracket at the Ojai Valley Tournament by defeating a seeded opponent in the second round on Friday, April 23. Wong downed #9-seeded Jeffrey Tolman from Northwest Conference rival Whitman College, 6-4, 6-1.

Wong, now 16-5 on the season, will take on #5-seeded Marc Vartabedian from the University of California-Santa Cruz in the Round of 16. The match between Wong and Vartabedian is slated for 9:30 a.m. (PDT) on Saturday, April 24.

Also for Willamette, Michael Baumgartner (Fr., Albany, OR/West Albany HS) provided a strong battle before losing to #9-seeded Silvio Chiba from UC-Santa Cruz in the first round of the Men's Division III Singles bracket. Chiba won 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4). Baumgartner won the second set to tie the match and held a 5-3 lead in the third set before Chiba fended off two match points and rallied for the win.

First round doubles matches were still underway on Friday afternoon. Willamette is represented in doubles by the team of Wong and Ferguson as well as the team of Houser and Baumgartner.

The college men's brackets at the Ojai Valley Tournament will continue through Sunday, April 25.