By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Pacific Lutheran University held a slim 2-1 lead after the doubles competition, but the Lutes won five of six singles matches to secure a 7-2 victory over Willamette University in a Northwest Conference men's tennis match, on Sunday, March 12 at the WU Tennis Courts. PLU advanced its record to 3-5 overall, 3-4 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 1-7 on the season, 1-6 in the NWC.

The Lutes picked up close wins at #1 and #2 doubles, but the Bearcats recorded a win at #3 doubles.

In the top match, Ryan Adams and James Okubo of PLU edged out Gunnar Lee (Sr., Hilo, HI/St. Joseph School) and Aaron Schechter (So., Seattle, WA/James A. Garfield HS) of WU, 9-7. At #2 doubles, Niko Covento and Justin DeMattos won for the Lutes by an identical score of 9-7 against Hunter Yee (Fr., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) and Colin Fisher (Fr., Caldwell, ID/Thomas Jefferson Charter School).

Willamette's #3 doubles team of Douglas Hochmuth (Sr./So., Oakland, CA/Bishop O'Dowd HS) and Derek Lund (Jr., Helena, MT/Capital HS) outscored Chan Thourk and John Woelfel, 8-5.

The Bearcats won at least four games in five of the six singles matches, but Fisher earned WU's only win at the #6 position. Fisher battled back from a set down against Woelfel to prevail in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, 4-6, 6-3, 10-4.

At #1 singles, Adams of Pacific Lutheran defeated Lee, 6-4, 6-3. Convento won for PLU at #2 singles, but needed a tie-breaker in the first set before downing Schechter, 7-6 (7-4), 6-0.

Okubo of PLU breezed through the first set at #3 singles, 6-1, but had to hold off Hochmuth in the second set, 6-4. DeMattos also grabbed a win forthe Lutes at #4 singles, as he defeated Yee, 6-3, 6-2. At #5 singles, Thourk of PLU edged out Lund of Willamette in the first set, 6-4, and then won the second set 6-1.

Willamette is scheduled to host Colorado College on Friday, March 17. Game time at the WU Tennis Courts is set for 4 p.m. (PDT).