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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University won two of three doubles matches to take an early lead and went on to defeat visiting University of Puget Sound, 6-3, in Northwest Conference men's tennis action on Friday, March 6 at the WU Tennis Courts. The Bearcats improved to 1-2 overall, 1-1 in the NWC, while Puget Sound fell to 0-5 overall, 0-5 in the NWC.

The Bearcats picked up a key win at #1 doubles in a battle between Willamette's team of Gunnar Lee (Jr., Hilo, HI/St. Joseph HS) and Jacob Blaisdell (Fr., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) and the UPS tandem of Joe McRoberts and Andrew Struzenberg. Partway through the match, McRoberts and Struzenberg broke Willamette's serve to claim a 5-5 tie.

Lee and Blaisdell responded with a service break of their own to move back in front, 6-5. They overcame a couple of game points for UPS, eventually winning three consecutive rallies to earn the service break. Lee and Blaisdell also led 7-6, before winning the next game to clinch the #1 match-up.

WU also won #2 doubles, with Sam Wexman (Jr., Tiburon, CA/Tamiscal HS) and Blake Brash (Jr., Boise, ID/Boise HS) prevailing over Daniel Deuel and Chris Severt, 8-5. At #3 doubles, the UPS team of Colton Wright and Chet Selis downed Derek Lund and Jack Mackinney, 8-3.

Willamette secured the team victory with wins at #2, #3, #4 and #5 singles.

Jack Schreiber (Sr., Solana Beach, CA/The Grauer School) held off McRoberts in the first set at #2 singles, 6-4, and then won the second set, 6-2. Lee rallied from a set down to win #3 singles in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, 2-6, 6-1, 10-2, against Wright.

At #4 singles, Brash rolled past Abe Noyes of UPS, 6-1, 6-1. Blaisdell took #5 singles for the Bearcats, 6-3, 6-2, over Struzenberg.

Puget Sound earned wins at #1 singles and #6 singles. In the #1 match, Deuel outlasted Wexman 6-4 scores in each set. In the second set, Deuel held a 5-0 lead before Wexman put on a strong rally to cut the margin to 5-4. Deuel held serve to win the set and take the match.

At #6 singles, Jacob Kompolt slipped past Samuel Rose of WU, 6-4, in the first set. Kompolt won the second set, 6-0.

Willamette will return to the WU Tennis Courts on Saturday, March 7 to take on Pacific Lutheran University. Match time is scheduled for 1 p.m. (PST).