By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University's team of Quentin Nigbur (Sr., Newberg, OR/Newberg HS) and Zack Olander (Fy., Bend, OR/Summit HS) recorded an 8-5 win over Tanner Sitanggang and Josue Madiana of Jessup University at #2 doubles on Saturday, Sept. 16. The Warriors, however, won three singles matches in super tie-breakers to claim the overall victory, 8-1, at the WU Tennis Courts. Jessup improved to 2-0 on the season, while the Bearcats fell to 0-1.

Nigbur and Olander highlighted a quality battle for both teams during the doubles competition. All three matches were competitive, with Jessup managing to hold off the Bearcats at the #1 and #3 positions. At #1 doubles, Austrebeto Carlon and Isaac Graves of JU outscored Willamette's team of Andrew Kabacy (Grad., Vancouver, WA/Skyview HS) and AJ Avansino (So., Renov, NV/Reno HS), 8-4. At #3 doubles, Joan Garros and Henrique Levy edged out Andrew Kropp (Sr., Bend, OR/Summit HS) and Velibor Mladenovic (So., Belgrade, Serbia/First Belgrade Grammar School) of WU, 8-6.

Mladenovic suffered an injury in doubles and did not play in singles. Willamette's singles players other than Kabacy at the #1 position each moved up one spot, with Trey Allen (Jr., Tucson, AZ/BASIS Tucson North HS) moving into the lineup.

The three singles matches that advanced to super tie-breakers instead of going to third sets were at the #1, #5, and #6 positions. In the #1 match, Carlon snuck past Kabacy of Willamette for a 3-6, 6-1, 10-4 victory. The #5 match went to Madiana of Jessup against Kropp by scores of 6-3, 3-6, and 10-5. At #6 singles, Garros from JU defeated Allen of WU, 3-6, 6-0, 10-5.

Willamette is scheduled to compete at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Northwest Regional Championships from Friday, Sept. 22 through Monday, Sept. 25 in Walla Walla, Washington. The event will be hosted by Whitman College.