Willamette Men's Tennis Team Defeats Lewis & Clark, 8-1

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

PORTLAND, ORE. -- Willamette University won a Northwest Conference men's tennis match at Lewis & Clark College on Saturday, April 7 to even the Bearcats' overall record at 8-8 for the season. Willamette improved to 7-6 in the NWC, as WU moved a full win in front of the University of Puget Sound (6-7) for fourth place in the standings. Lewis & Clark fell to 3-11 on the season, with all 14 matches in NWC play.

Donovan LeDoux (Fr., Keizer, OR/McNary HS) of Willamette won #1 singles over George Allen, 6-3, 6-1. At #1 doubles, WU's team of Eric MacMillan (Jr., Twin Falls, ID/Twin Falls HS) and Shaun Mihalick (Sr., Mukilteo, WA/Eastlake HS) downed David Lindsay and Luke Wheeler, 8-4. Wheeler recorded L&C's only victory at #3 singles, when he defeated Fitz Paccione (Jr. Encinitas, CA/Cathedral Catholic) in a close match, 6-4, 7-6 (7-1).

Two other singles matches were closely contested. At #4 singles, Mihalick edged Peter Ray in a tie-breaker played instead of a third set, 1-6, 7-5, (10-3). The #5 singles match was won by WU's Ethan Heinrich (Fr., San Carlos, CA/Davis HS) over Andrew Moller, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.

Willamette, which has achieved a 5-1 record in its past six matches, returns to the courts on Friday, April 13, when the Bearcats will host George Fox University. Match time at the Willamette University Tennis Courts is scheduled for 3 p.m. (PDT).

Saturday, April 7
Portland, Ore.

Willamette University 8, Lewis & Clark College 1

Singles
#1 - Donovan LeDoux (WU) defeated George Allen (L&C), 6-3, 6-1
#2 - Eric MacMillan (WU) defeated David Lindsay (L&C), 6-3, 6-3
#3 - Luke Wheeler (L&C) defeated Fitz Paccione (WU), 6-4, 7-6 (7-1)
#4 - Shaun Mihalick (WU) defeated Peter Ray (L&C), 1-6, 7-5, (10-3)
#5 - Ethan Heinrich (WU) defeated Andrew Moller (L&C), 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
#6 - Micah Mack (WU) defeated Matthias Kullowatz (L&C), 6-0, 6-1

Doubles
#1 - MacMillan and Mihalick (WU) defeated Lindsay and Wheeler (L&C), 8-4
#2 - LeDoux and Mack (WU) defeated Allen and Ray (L&C), 8-4
#3 - Paccione and Klein (WU) defeated Moller and Kullowatz (L&C) 8-2

Records: Willamette is 8-8 overall, 7-6 in the NWC; Lewis & Clark is 3-11 overall, 3-11 in the NWC.