Bearcats Fall to Pacific Lutheran, 7-2, in Men's Tennis

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Pacific Lutheran University defeated Willamette University, 7-2, in a Northwest Conference men's tennis match on Saturday, Feb. 16 at the Courthouse Tennis Club. PLU, which defeated Lewis & Clark earlier in the day, 9-0, improved to 3-3 on the season, 3-1 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 0-2 overall, 0-1 in the NWC.

The Lutes won two of the three doubles matches, claiming wins at the #2 and #3 positions. WU was victorious at #1 doubles, as Andrew Murakami (Jr., Wahiawa, HI/U. of Redlands) and Micah Mack (So., Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS) rolled past Justin Larimore and Justin Peterson, 8-3.

At #2 doubles, PLU's team of Kevin Floyd and Michael Manser downed Eric MacMillan (Sr., Twin Falls, ID/Twin Falls HS) and Matthew Houser (Fr., Vancouver, WA/Evergreen HS), also by an 8-3 score. The #3 doubles match was closely contested, with Jared Vidano and James Crosetto of PLU slipping past Alex Sepenzis (Jr., Edwards, CO/Cherry Creek HS) and Luke Lagattuta (So., Albuquerque, NM/Highland HS), 9-7.

MacMillan played #1 singles for Willamette and provided the Bearcats with their only win in singles. He outlasted Floyd, 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-3), 6-4.

The #3 singles match also went three sets before Manser of PLU defeated Murakami, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. The #5 singles match involved two competitive sets, with Vidano recording the win for the Lutes, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6), over Fitz Paccione (Sr., Encinitas, CA/Cathedral Catholic).

Willamette will host Linfield College on Sunday, Feb. 17 at the Courthouse Tennis Club. Match time is scheduled for 4 p.m. (PST).

Saturday, Feb. 16
At Courthouse Tennis Club, Salem, Ore.

Pacific Lutheran University 7, Willamette University 2

Singles
#1 - Eric MacMillan (WU) defeated Kevin Floyd (PLU), 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-3), 6-4
#2 - Justin Larimore (PLU) defeated Matthew Houser (WU), 6-3, 6-0
#3 - Michael Manser (PLU) defeated Andrew Murakami (WU), 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
#4 - Justin Peterson (PLU) defeated Micah Mack (WU), 6-0, 6-2
#5 - Jared Vidano (PLU) defeated Fitz Paccione (WU), 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
#6 - Scott Sheldon (PLU) defeated Alex Sepenzis (WU), 6-1, 6-3

Doubles
#1 - Murakami and Mack (WU) defeated Larimore and Peterson (PLU), 8-3
#2 - Floyd and Manser (PLU) defeated MacMillan and Houser (WU), 8-3
#3 - Vidano and Jamie Crosetto (PLU) defeated Sepenzis and Luke Lagattuta (WU), 9-7

Records: Willamette is 0-2 overall, 0-1 in the NWC; Pacific Lutheran is 3-3, 3-0 in the NWC.