Willamette Falls to 13th-Ranked Whitman, 7-2

By Timothy Walsh, Athletics Communications Writer

WALLA WALLA, WASH. -- Joshua Wong (Sr., Hilo, HI/Hilo HS) earned victories at #1 singles and #1 doubles, but nationally-ranked Whitman College secured a 7-2 team win over Willamette University in a Northwest Conference matchup at the Bratton Tennis Center in Walla Walla, Wash., on Saturday, Feb. 16.

The Missionaries, ranked 13th nationally and #6 in the West Region, improved to 1-1 on the season, 1-0 in the NWC. Willamette, which is ranked 19th in the West Region, fell to 0-2, 0-1 in NWC play.

The #1 singles match featured two of the West Region's top 10 players, with Wong entering the match ranked #6, while Whitman's Colton Malesovas was ranked third. The battle lived up to its billing, stretching to three sets, but ended with Wong pulling off a 6-3, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3 win.

With the win, Wong improves his singles record this spring to 2-0, with victories over Malesovas andAntoine Bechmann of Division I Portland State University.

Whitman won the remaining five singles matches, though Jack Schreiber (So., Solana Beach, CA/The Grauer School) and Devin Abney (So.,Shoreline, WA/Shorecrest HS/U. of Redlands) put up strong fights at the #5 and #4 spots, respectively.

In doubles play, Wong and Sam Wexman (Fr., Tiburon, CA/Gamiscal HS) earned a thrilling 9-8 (7-3) victory at the #1 position, defeating Whitman's #1 doubles team of Andrew La Cava and Sam Sadeghi.

The Missionaries won the remaining doubles matches in convincing fashion, however, notching 8-0 and 8-1 victories.

The Bearcats will hit the road again for their next match, traveling to NWC rival Lewis & Clark College on Friday, Feb. 22, for a match scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. (PST).

The following day, Willamette will play its first home match of the year, facing off against Pacific Lutheran University at either the Willamette Tennis Courts or the Courthouse Tennis Center (1379 Madison St. NE). The match against PLU will begin at 11 a.m. (PST) regardless of location.