Freshmen LeDoux and Heinrich Lead Bearcats Past Whitworth, 6-3

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

(MEN'S TENNIS) SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University freshmen Donovan LeDoux (Keizer, OR/McNary HS) and Ethan Heinrich (San Carlos, CA/Davis HS) rallied from a 7-4 deficit at #2 doubles to take a 9-8 (7-2) victory, then won competitive singles matches involving additional tie-breakers to lead the Bearcats over visiting Whitworth College, 6-3, in a Northwest Conference match on Saturday, March 17. With the win, the Bearcats improved to 5-7 overall, 5-6 in the NWC. Whitworth fell to 2-8 overall, including 2-6 in the NWC.

After falling behind by three games in doubles, LeDoux and Heinrich won three games in a row to tie the match at 7-7. Whitworth's #2 doubles team of Scott Bourne and Michael Carlson won the next game, but Heinrich held serve to force the tie-breaker. LeDoux and Heinrich surged out to a 5-0 lead in the tie-breaker, before winning 7-2.

In singles, LeDoux won the #1 match over Whitworth's Ed Anegon, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4). Both players gave up a service break early in the second set. Later, LeDoux held service to tie the set, 6-6, then won the match with a 7-4 advantage in the tie-breaker. LeDoux' win clinched the team victory for Willamette, with Heinrich's win at #5 singles following shortly thereafter.

Heinrich defeated Kellen Oetgen, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (9-7). He rallied from a set down to even the match, then built a 5-2 lead in the third set. Oetgen battled back to tie the third set at 5-5. Oetgen took a 6-5 lead with his fourth win in a row, but Heinrich tied the set by holding serve. Heinrich then prevailed in a close tie-beaker, 9-7.

Willamette also received singles victories from Eric MacMillan (Jr., Twin Falls, ID/Twin Falls HS) at the #2 position and from Geoff Klein (Jr., Sagle, ID/Sandpoint HS) at the #6 position. MacMillan defeated Carlson, 6-1, 6-2, while Klein downed Colin Storm, 6-1, 6-1. Klein and Fitz Paccione (Jr., Encinitas, CA/Cathedral Catholic) won a close match at #3 doubles, as they defeated Oetgen and Storm, 8-6.

Whitworth picked up victories at #3 singles, #4 singles and #1 doubles. The Pirates' top doubles team of Anegon and Scott Donnell downed MacMillan and Shaun Mihalick (Sr., Mukilteo, WA/Eastlake HS), 8-4.

The Bearcats swept the season series from the Pirates. Willamette also defeated Whitworth, 7-2, in the season opener on Feb. 16 in Spokane, Wash.

Willamette will return to action on Monday, March 26 at Vanguard College in Costa Mesa, Calif. Match time is set for 2 p.m. (PDT).

Saturday, March 17, 2007
At Willamette University Tennis Courts

Willamette University 6, Whitworth College 3

Singles
#1 - Donovan LeDoux (WU) defeated Ed Anegon (WHTW), 6-2, 7-6 (7-4)
#2 - Eric MacMillan (WU) defeated Michael Carlson (WHTW), 6-1, 6-2
#3 - Scott Donnell (WHTW) defeated Fitz Paccione (WU), 7-5, 6-3
#4 - Scott Bourne (WHTW) defeated Shaun Mihalick (WU), 6-2, 6-4
#5 - Ethan Heinrich (WU) defeated Kellen Oetgen (WHTW), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (9-7)
#6 - Geoff Klein (WU) defeated Colin Storm (WHTW), 6-1, 6-1

Doubles
#1 - Anegon and Donnell (WHTW) defeated MacMillan and Mihalick (WU), 8-4
#2 - LeDoux and Heinrich (WU) defeated Bourne and Carlson (WHTW), 9-8 (7-2)
#3 - Paccione and Klein (WU) defeated Oetgen and Storm (WHTW), 8-6

Records: Willamette, 5-7 overall, 5-6 NWC; Whitworth, 2-8 overall, 2-6 NWC