By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

EUGENE, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's tennis team was defeated by the University of Oregon Club team, 9-0, on Sunday, Feb. 12 in an exhibition match. Results from the match don't count against the Bearcats' win-loss record because the NCAA does not include competition against club teams when determining statistics and records.

At #1 doubles, Willamette's team of Gunnar Lee (Sr., Hilo, HI/St. Joseph School) and Aaron Schechter (So., Seattle, WA/James A. Garfield HS) battled Neu Nipatasaj and Juaquin Sabarots from the U of O Club. Nipatasaj and Sabarots held off Lee and Schechter for an 8-5 win.

Lee played #1 singles for the Bearcats against Isaac Leve from the U of O Club. Leve outlasted Lee in the first set, 6-0. In the second set, Lee earned a 6-2 win to take the match.

Schechter and U of O Club athlete Michael Stephenson challenged each other at #2 singles. Stephenson prevailed in a close match, 7-6, 6-3.

Another highly competitive match took place at #6 singles, where Tashi Wada from the U of O Club edged out Colin Fisher (Fr., Caldwell, ID/Thomas Jefferson Charter School) of Willamette in two close sets, 6-3, 7-6 (10-8).

Willamette will play another exhibition match on Saturday, Feb. 18 in Walla Walla, Washington, against Community College of Spokane. Match time is set for 5 p.m. (PST).