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

SANTA, ANA. CALIF. -- Willamette University and George Fox University don't usually play Northwest Conference men's tennis matches in California. However, both teams wanted to make-up their match originally scheduled to be played in Newberg, Ore., on Friday, March 4.

So the teams played in Santa Anna, Calif., on Tuesday, March 22, with Willamette defeating George Fox, 8-1, during the Spring Break trips for both teams. The match was held at the Cabrillo Country Club.

The Bearcats, ranked #11 in the West Region of NCAA Division III, improved to 7-3 overall, 6-1 in the NWC. George Fox dropped to 5-5 overall, 4-3 in the NWC.

WU swept the double matches to take a 3-0 lead. At #1 doubles, Michale Baumgartner (So., Albany, OR/Albany HS) and Matthew Houser (Sr., Vancouver, WA/Evergreen HS) moved past Scott Barnett and Preston Mann, 8-3.

Joshua Wong (So., Hilo, HI/Hilo HS) and Cody Ferguson (Jr., North Bend, OR/North Bend HS/Western Oregon Univ.) edged out Josiah Jackson and Peter Brown at #2 doubles, 8-6. Willamette's #3 team of Will Cooper (Fr., Gresham, OR/Centennial HS) and Vincent Garrett (Fr., Seattle, WA/Seattle Prep/Bellevue CC) held off Justin McClain and Pax Magaway, 8-5.

Baumgartner led the way in singles be defeating Barnett in the #1 match, 6-1, 6-2. Wong defeated Mann, 6-2, 6-1 at #2 singles and Ferguson downed McClain at #3 singles, 6-4, 6-2.

Jackson of GFU won the first set against Houser at #4 singles, 6-4. Houser was leading in the second set, 4-1, when Jackson had to retire due to an injury.

The Bruins picked up their only triumph at #5 singles, as Brown defeated Cooper, 6-1, 6-3. At #6 singles, Vincent of Willamette outlasted Andy Tweet of GFU in a match decided by a super tie-breaker instead of a third set, 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 12-10.

Willamette will conclude its Spring Break trip with two matches in Claremont, Calif., on Wednesday, March 23. The Bearcats will take on Bowdoin College (Maine) at 9 a.m. (PDT) and will battle Trinity College (Connecticut) at 1 p.m. (PDT). Bowdoin is ranked #15 in the NCAA Division III national rankings, while Trinity is ranked #14 in the nation.