Willamette Moves Past Lewis & Clark, 8-1

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Andrew Murakami (Jr., Wahiawa, HI/U. of Redlands) and Micah Mack (So., Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS) of Willamette University edged George Allen and Dirk Frouws of Lewis & Clark College 8-6 at #1 doubles, completing a sweep of doubles for WU and starting the Bearcats on their way to an 8-1 victory over the Pioneers, Saturday, March 1 at the Courthouse Tennis Club. Willamette evened its Northwest Conference record at 3-3, while improving to 3-4 overall. L&C ended the match at 2-5 on the season -- all in the NWC.

Murakami also contributed to WU's success in singles, as the Bearcats were victorious at five of six positions. Murakami won #3 singles over Frouws, 6-0, 6-1. The #1 singles match was won by Eric MacMillan (Sr., Twin Falls, ID/Twin Falls HS) of Willamette, 6-1, 7-5, against Allen of L&C.

The closest match of the day was L&C's only win, with Luke Wheeler providing the Pioneers with a 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (10-8) victory over Matt Houser (Fr., Vancouver, WA/Evergreen HS). Both sets required tie-breakers, as Houser almost extended the match into a third set.

Saturday, March 1
At Courthouse Tennis Club, Salem, Ore.

Willamette University 8, Lewis & Clark College 1

Singles
#1 - Eric MacMillan (WU) defeated George Allen (L&C), 6-1, 7-5
#2 - Luke Wheeler (L&C) defeated Matt Houser (WU), 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (10-8)
#3 - Andrew Murakami (WU) defeated Dirk Frouws (L&C), 6-0, 6-1
#4 - Fitz Paccione (WU) defeated Andrew Moller (L&C), 6-3, 6-0
#5 - Alex Sepenzis (WU) defeated Peter Ray (L&C), 6-3, 6-2
#6 - Geoff Klein (WU) defeated Matthias Kullowatz (L&C), 6-3, 6-1

Doubles
#1 - Murakami and Mack (WU) defeated Allen and Frouws (L&C), 8-6
#2 - MacMillan and Houser (WU) defeated Wheeler and Adam Rager (L&C), 8-2
#3 - Paccione and Luke Lagattuta (WU) defeated Ray and Kullowatz (L&C) 8-3

Records: Willamette is 3-4 overall, 3-3 in the NWC; Lewis & Clark is 2-5 overall, 2-5 in the NWC.