By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

NEWBERG, Ore. -- George Fox University won all three doubles matches and prevailed in two close matches in singles, as the Bruins defeated Willamette University, 9-0, in Northwest Conference men's tennis action on Saturday, April 9. GFU advanced its record to 6-9 on the season, 4-5 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 2-8 overall, 2-7 in the NWC.

Spencer Watanabe and Chris Lilley of GFU defeated Aaron Schechter (Fr., Seattle, WA/James A. Garfield HS) and Colin Yamaguchi (Sr./Jr., Clackamas, OR/Clackamas HS) at #1 doubles, 8-2. In the #3 doubles match, the Bruins' team of Tristen Lerma and Vincent Viloria downed Derek Lund (So., Helena, MT/Capital HS) and Douglas Hochmuth (Jr./Fr., Oakland, CA/Bishop O'Dowd HS), 9-1.

At #2 doubles, Nicholas Grafton and Mitchell Miyashiro from George Fox held off Willamette's duo of Samuel Wexman (Sr., Tiburon, CA/Tamiscal HS) and Blake Brash (Sr., Boise, ID/Boise HS), 8-4.

The Bruins added wins in highly competitive matches at #2 singles and #5 singles. In the #2 match, Grafton defeated Schechter in the first set, 6-2, but was forced into a tie-breaker by Schechter in the second set. Grafton won the set, 7-6, by taking the tie-breaker, 7-3.

Nick Ekern was victorious at #5 singles over Hochmuth. Ekern outscored Hochmuth 6-3 in the first set and 6-4 in the second set.

Other winners for GFU were Lilley at #1 singles, Miyashiro at #3 singles, Viloria at #4 singles and Lerma at #6 singles. Miyashiro held of Yamaguchi in the first set in the #3 match, before taking the second set, 6-1.

Willamette will be back in action on Sunday, April 10 with a home match against archrival Linfield College. Match time at the WU Tennis Courts is set for 12 p.m. (PDT).