Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- In a Northwest Conference men's tennis match between long-time rivals, Linfield College defeated Willamette University, 8-1, at the Linfield Tennis Center on Sunday, March 19. The Wildcats advanced their record to 4-7 overall, 3-5 in the NWC. The Bearcats dropped to 1-9 overall, 1-7 in the NWC.

Linfield took a 3-0 lead during the doubles action. Tyler Linscott and Ben McNair won #1 doubles against Willamette's team of Gunnar Lee (Sr., Hilo, HI/St. Joseph School) and Aaron Schechter (So., Seattle, WA/James A. Garfield HS), 8-3.The #3 doubles match also ended in an 8-3 score, as Wildcats Jose Luis Rojas and John Lutaaya downed Derek Lund (Jr., Helena, MT/Capital HS) and Douglas Hochmuth (Sr./So., Oakland, CA/Bishop O'Dowd HS) of Willamette.

At #2 doubles, Nathan Saragoza and Charlie Farrenkopf form Linfield outscored Colin Fisher (Fr., Caldwell, ID/Thomas Jefferson Charter School) and Hunter Yee (Fr., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) from Willamette, 8-4.

In singles play, the Wildcats won five of six matches. Willamette's win was recorded by Yee at #4 singles, as he outlasted Lutayya in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set. Yee won, 6-3, 3-6, 10-8. The #1 singles match went to Linscott, who defeated Lee, 6-1, 6-3.

Schechter of Willamette battled Rojas at #2 singles, but Rojas earned a 6-3, 6-4 victory. Saragoza won the first set at #3 singles 6-1 against Douglas Hochmuth (Sr./So., Oakland, CA/Bishop O'Dowd HS), but had to hold on for a 7-5 win in the second set.

At #5 singles, Jacob Mangan of Linfield downed Lund in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. Farrenkopf earned a win for the Wildcats at #6 singles, as he moved past Fisher, 6-2, 6-0.

Willamette will take on Community Colleges of Spokane in an exhibition match on Saturday, March 25. The action is set to begin at 11 a.m. (PDT).