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

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Two Willamette University men's tennis players won first round matches in the singles qualifying bracket during the ITA Northwest Regional on Friday night, Sept. 23 at Whitman College. Winners for the Bearcats were Samuel Rowe (Jr./So., Andover, MA/Andover HS) and Jesse Mackinney (Jr., Arcata, CA/Northcoast Prep and Performing Arts Academy).

Rowe and Mackinney lost in the second round of the qualifying bracket, so they did not advance to the championship bracket.

In the opening round of qualifying, Rowe edged out Thomas Foy from Linfield College in a tie-breaker following a pro-set, 9-8. Mackinney outscored Andrew Dickson of George Fox University, 8-6. In the secon dround, Rowe fell to Nishaant Limaye of Whitman, 6-0, 6-0, while Mackinney lost to Joey Diaz of Whitman, 6-0, 6-1.

Three other Bearcats competed in the first round of qualifying. Gene Perle-Jones (Fr., Eugene, OR/North Eugene HS) was defeated by Jacob Christensen of Whitman, 8-1. Ethan Frank (Fr., Lahaina, HI/Maui Preparatory Academy) lost to Cameron Dubos of George Fox, 8-0, and Endy Zarate (So., Salem, OR/McKay HS) was downed by Charlie Farrenkopf from Linfield, 8-1.

All of the WU players who lost during singles qualifying will compete in the singles qualifying consolation bracket.

Six Bearcats were in the championship singles bracket without qualifing. Willamette players in main bracket Douglas Hochmuth (Sr./So., Oakland, CA/Bishop O'Dowd HS), Derek Lund (Jr., Helena, MT/Capital HS), Aaron Schechter (So., Seattle, WA/James A. Garfield HS), Gunnar Lee (Sr., Hilo, HI/St. Joseph School), Colin Fisher (Fr., Caldwell, ID/Thomas Jefferson Charter School), and Hunter Yee (Fr., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School).

Two Willamette teams lost in the first round of doubles qualifying on Friday. Frank and Zarate fell to Nick Hughes and Ben Bethards of Whitworth, 8-1. Rowe and Mackinney were defeated by Carter Pentz and Eric Rutherford from Linfield, 8-3.

Bearcat teams in the championship doubles bracket are Lund and Hochmuth, as well as Yee and Fisher.

The championship singles bracket and the championship doubles bracket will begin competition on Saturday (Sept. 24). Action is scheduled to continue on Sunday and Monday. The singles and doubles champions from the ITA Northwest Regional will advance to the ITA National Championships later this fall.