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

SALEM, ORE. -- University of the Ozarks (Ark.) earned an 8-1 victory against Willamette University in men's tennis on Friday, March 20 at the Courthouse Tennis Center. The Eagles upped their record to 5-3 on the season, while Willamette dropped to 0-6.

The Bearcats competed without top singles player Sam Wexman (Jr., Tiburon, CA/Tamiscal HS) for the second consecutive match due to injury.

Ozarks won all three doubles matches. Todd Turner and Bishop Bass took #1 singles, 8-4, against Gunnar Lee (Jr., Hilo, HI/St. Joseph HS) and Jacob Blaisdell (Fr., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School), 8-4.

At #2 doubles, Greg Knaggs and Trevor Scott won for the Eagles over Jack Schreiber (Sr., Solana Beach, CA/The Grauer School) and Derek Lund (Fr., Helena, MT/Capital HS) of Willamette, 8-4. The #3 doubles match went to Corey Dillard and Jacob Organ of Ozarks, as they defeated Blake Brash (Jr., Boise, ID/Boise HS) and Samuel Rowe (Fr., Andover, MA/Andover HS), 8-3.

Brash registered Willamette's only win at #3 singles, as he edged out Knaggs in a tie-breaker in the first set, before settling in for a 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 victory. Lee of WU fell at #1 singles in two tie-breakers, as Todd Turner claimed a narrow 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5) triumph. Lee held leads of 5-4 and 6-5 during he second set.

Bass downed Schreiber at #2 singles, 6-3, 6-0. At #4 singles, Dillard swept through the first set and held off Blaisdell in the second set for a 6-0, 7-5 win. Scott prevailed at #5 singles against Lund, 6-3, 6-1. Spencer Turner won at #6 singles versus Rowe, 6-1, 6-1.

Willamette will play its next three matches in Southern California. The Bearcats' Spring Break trip will begin at Occidental College on Sunday, March 22 at 9:30 a.m. (PDT). Willamette will take on Biola University on Monday, March 23 at 2 p.m., before playing at California Institute of Technology on Wednesday, March 25 at 11 a.m.