By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University won #1 doubles, but nationally ranked Pacific University prevailed at #2 and #3 doubles and earned victories in five of six singles matches, as the Boxers defeated the Bearcats, 7-2, in a men's tennis match on Sunday, April 17. Pacific, ranked #33 in NCAA Division III by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), advanced its record to 17-3 with an 11-1 record in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats ended the season at 3-10 overall, 3-9 in the NWC.

Colin Yamaguchi (Sr./Jr., Clackamas, OR/Clackamas HS) and Aaron Schechter (Fr., Seattle, WA/James A. Garfield HS) combined for Willamette to gain a 9-7 triumph at #1 doubles against Pacific's team of Reuben Mulhern and Ben Ryweck.

At #2 doubles, Nyles Moisson and Josh Bernstein of Pacific downed Blake Brash (Sr., Boise, ID/Boise HS) and Samuel Wexman (Sr., Tiburon, CA/Tamiscal HS) of WU, 8-3. Sage Katayama and Wesley Upton won for the Boxers at #3 doubles.

Willamette's lone win in singles was recorded by Schechter in the #4 match. He edged out Moisson in the first set 6-4. The second set was tied at 6-6, before Schechter took the set by winning every point in a tie-breaker (7-0).

Pacific gained a close victory at #5 singles, as Upton held off Derek Lund (So., Helena, MT/Capital HS) in two competitive sets, 7-5, 7-6 (7-4). Griffin Fraser won for the Boxers at #6 singles, earning a close triumph in the first set, 6-4, and then claiming the second set, 6-2.

Other winners in singles for the Boxers were Brennan Faith at the #1 position, Chirs Dalton in the #2 match, and Katayama in the #3 match.