By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

ABILENE, Texas -- Willamette University played strong matches at #1 singles and #1 doubles, but Hardin-Simmons won those contests on its way to defeating the Bearcats, 9-0, in men's tennis on Thursday, March 28 at the Streich Tennis Center. Hardin-Simmons upped its record to 5-7. Willamette moved to 0-12 on the season.

Andrew Kabacy (Grad., Vancouver, WA/Skyview HS) of Willamette battled Justus Petersilie of the Cowboys at #1 singles. Even so, Petersilie held on for a 6-4, 6-3 win. In #1 doubles, Kabacy and Quentin Nigbur (Sr., Newberg, OR/Newberg HS) supplied quality opposition for Petersilie and Luke Cantu of HSU, but the two Cowboys won the match, 8-5.

The win at #1 doubles, helped Hardin-Simmons build a 3-0 advantage. At #2 doubles, Zack Fowler and Payne Smith defeated AJ Avansino (So., Reno, NV/Reno HS) and Zack Olander (Fy., Bend, OR/Summit HS) of WU, 8-3. In the #3 doubles competition, Brandon Curiel and Jordan Oberbillig of HSU downed Andre Lief (Jr., Anchorage, AK/West Anchorage HS) and Luca Casano (So., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) of the Bearcats, 8-2.

Petersilie's win in singles led the Cowboys. Fowler at #3 singles and Smith at #4 singles each won the first set 6-1, before encountering increased pressure in the second set. Fowler defeated Nigbur 6-3 in the second set at #3, while Smith outscored Avansino 6-4 in the second set at #4. Also winning singles matches for Hardin-Simmons were Cantu at #2, Curiel at #5, and Oberbillig at #6.

Willamette will return to Northwest Conference action with a match against Whitman College on Sunday, March 31 in Walla Walla, Washington. The start time is set for 11 a.m. PDT.