George Fox Defeats Willamette, 6-3, following two Three-Set Wins in Singles

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Joshua Wong (Sr., Hilo, HI/Hilo HS) of Willamette University continued his success at #1 singles and #1 doubles, but George Fox University gained wins at five of the singles positions to defeat the Bearcats, 6-3, on Friday, March 1 at the Courthouse Tennis Center.

Wong defeated Justin McClain in the first set at #1 singles, 6-3, but had to rally from behind to prevail in the second set. Wong trailed 4-1, but triumphed in five consecutive games for a 6-4 win, as he improved to 4-0 on the season.

The team victory for GFU ultimately was decided by a pair of three-set matches at #2 singles and #6 singles, with both victories going to the Bruins. GFU improved to 5-3 overall and to 5-1 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette dropped to 1-4 on the season, 1-3 in the NWC.

Nearly all of the matches where close and competitive, the final three matches to be completed -- Wong's win at #1 singles, plus the #2 and #6 matches -- all featured lengthy points and games.

Willamette used a couple of narrow wins of its own to built a 2-1 lead in doubles. Wong and Sam Wexman (Fr., Tiburon, CA/Gamiscal HS) of WU took the #1 doubles match, 8-6, as they outlasted Shawn Aldrich and Chris Lilley. Wong and Wexman are 4-0 this spring.

The Bearcats also won at #3 doubles, where Mathew Dees Fr., Henderson, NV/Coronado HS) and Gunnar Lee (Fr., Hilo, HI/St. Joseph HS) edged out Preston Mann and Any Tweet in a tie-breaker, 9-8 (8-6).

George Fox picked up a win at #2 doubles, as Justin McClain and Peter Brown downed Will Cooper (Jr., Gresham, OR/Centennial HS) and Devin Abney (So., Shoreline, WA/Shorecrest HS/Univ. of Redlands), 8-2.

After GFU added victories at #3, #4 and #5 singles, the Bruins held a 4-2 advantage in t he team score. Wong's triumph at #1 singles reduced GFU's lead to a single point.

Aldrich rallied from a set down to take #2 singles for George Fox, as he defeated Wexman, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2. At #6 singles, Peter Brown of GFU also dropped the first set, before rallying to down Jack Schreiber (So., Solana Beach, CA/The Grauer School), 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

The Bearcats will be back in action on Saturday, March 2 with a Northwest Conference match at Linfield College. The start time against the Wildcats is slated for 1 p.m. (PST) at the Linfield Tennis Center in McMinnville, Ore.