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

FOREST GROVE, ORE. -- Pacific University prevailed in several close matches, as the Boxers defeated Willamette University, 8-1, in a Northwest Conference men's tennis match at the Holce Tennis Courts. The Boxers earned a slim victory at #3 doubles, and also pulled out tight matches at #1, #2 and #4 singles.

With the win, Pacific moved its record to 6-2 overall, 5-1 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 1-7 on the season, 1-5 in the NWC.

Alen Suklje and Reuben Mulhern narrowly edged out Blake Brash (So., Boise, ID/Boise HS) and Shrujan Kalidindi (So., Cupertino, CA/Monta Vista HS) at #3 doubles, 8-6. That win, along with triumphs at #1 and #2 doubles, gave Pacific an early 3-0 advantage.

The Boxers won five of six singles matches to pull away, but faced strong battles before earning three of the wins. At #1 singles, Troy Zuroske outlasted Sam Wexman (So., Tiburon, CA/Tamiscal HS) of WU, 6-3, 6-4.

Although Giancarlo Battaglia of Pacific took a quick win in the first set at #2 singles, he needed a tie-breaker to take the second set from Will Cooper (Sr., Gresham, OR/Centennial HS) for a 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) win. Lorne Bulling fended off Jack Schreiber (Jr., Solana Beach, CA/The Grauer School) of WU at #4 singles, winning in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, 6-3, 3-6, 10-8.

Brash won for Willamette at #5 singles. He edge Suklje in the first set 6-4, before cruising to a 6-1 win in the second set.

The Bearcats will host the Community College of Spokane in an exhibition match on Thursday, March 20. The action is set to get underway at the WU Tennis Courts at 4 p.m. (PST).