Nationally-Ranked Whitman Defeats Bearcats 9-0 in NWC Men's Tennis

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

(MEN'S TENNIS) WALLA WALLA, WASH. -- Whitman College, ranked 16th in NCAA Division III, swept a Northwest Conference mens tennis match from Willamette University, 9-0, on Saturday, Feb. 17 in Walla Walla, Wash. The Missionaries improved to 5-1 overall, including 5-0 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 1-1 overall (result vs. Colorado College not yet available). The Bearcats are also 1-1 in the NWC.

Although Whitman won every flight, the Missionaries received very strong battles from Willamette at #1 singles and #2 doubles. At #1 singles, Whitmans Phalkun Mam won the first set 7-5, but Donovan LeDoux equalized with a 6-2 win in the second set. Mam won the match by claiming a 10-3 victory in a 10-point tie-breaker. At #2 doubles, Jake Cappel and Matt Solomon of Whitman needed a tie-breaker to defeat Shaun Mihalick and Micah Mack, 9-8 (7-5).

Willamette will return to action on Friday, Feb. 23 with a Northwest Conference match at Pacific University. Match time in Forest Grove, Ore., is set for 1 p.m. (PST).

Saturday, Feb. 17, 2007
At Walla Walla, Wash.

Whitman College 9, Willamette University 0

Singles
#1 - Phalkun Mam (WTMN) defeated Donovan LeDoux (WU), 5-7, 6-2, (10-3)*
#2 - Steven Ly (WTMN) defeated Eric MacMillan (WU), 6-0, 6-0
#3 - Matt Solomon (WTMN) defeated Fitz Paccione (WU), 6-1, 6-2
#4 - Christoph Fuchs (WTMN) defeated Shaun Mihalick (WU), 6-0, 6-1
#5 - David Deming (WTMN) defeated Micah Mack (WU), 6-1, 6-0
#6 - Jake Cappel (WTMN) defeated Geoff Klein (WU), 6-0, 6-3

Doubles
#1 - Mam and Ly (WTMN) defeated MacMillan and LeDoux (WU), 8-2
#2 - Cappel and Solomon (WTMN) defeated Mihalick and Mack (WU), 9-8 (7-5)
#3 - Fuchs and Jasper Follows (WTMN) defeated Klein and Paccione (WU), 8-3

* 10-point tie-breaker played instead of third set

Records: Willamette University, 1-1 NWC; Whitman College, 5-1 overall, 5-0 NWC