By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Gunnar Lee (Sr., Hilo, HI/St. Joseph School) prevailed at #1 singles and four other Bearcats added wins in singles play, as Willamette University rallied from a 2-1 deficit in doubles to defeat University of Puget Sound, 6-3, in a Northwest Conference men's tennis match at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club on Friday, April 14.

Willamette improved to 2-11 on the season, 2-9 in the NWC. Puget Sound dropped to 0-13 overall, 0-11 in the NWC.

Lee led the rally in singles with a 6-4, 7-5 victory against Joe McRoberts of Puget Sound. Aaron Schechter (So., Seattle, WA/James A. Garfield HS) of WU took #2 singles over Riley Inn in straight sets, but needed a tie-breaker in the second set before claiming a 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) win.

Hunter Yee (Fr., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) won for the Bearcats at #4 singles, as he moved past Chris Severt of Puget Sound, 6-3, 6-2. At #5 singles, Derek Lund (Jr., Helena, MT/Capital HS) triumphed for Willamette 6-2 in the first set against Ben Colson, and then held off Colson in the second set, 7-5.

Colin Fisher (Fr., Caldwell, ID/Thomas Jefferson Charter School) of WU zoomed to a 6-0, 6-1 win at #6 singles versus Graham Byron. Puget Sound earned its only singles victory at the #3 position, as Jacob Kompolt outlasted Douglas Hochmuth (Sr./So., Oakland, CA/Bishop O'Dowd HS) in three sets, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.

In doubles, the Loggers grabbed victories at the #1 and #2 spots. McRoberts and Inn won #1 doubles against Lee and Schechter, 8-5. Kompolt and Severt downed Yee and Fisher by an identical 8-5 score at #2 doubles.

The #3 doubles match was won by Willamette's team of Hochmuth and Lund, who edged out Coslon and Byron of Puget Sound, 8-6.

Willamette will close out the season with a match against NWC rival Pacific University on Saturday, April 15 in Forest Grove, Oregon. The action is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. (PDT).