Nationally Ranked UW-Whitewater Defeats Willamette, 8-1

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

CLAREMONT, CALIF. -- University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, ranked #29 nationally in NCAA Division III, defeated Willamette University, 8-1, in a men's tennis match at the Claremont Club in Southern California on Tuesday, March 26.

UW-Whitewater improved to 7-9 on the season, including four losses to NCAA Division I teams. Willamette, which has two losses against NCAA Division I opponents, fell to 5-8.

Joshua Wong (Sr., Hilo, HI/Hilo HS) registered Willamette's only win of the match at #1 singles. Wong rolled past Byron Balkin in the first set, 6-0, before winning a close second set, 6-4. With the victory, Wong improved to 10-1 in singles this spring, with his only loss against Reid deLaubenfels from Fresno State University of NCAA Division I.

The Warhawks built an early lead by winning all three doubles matches. At #1 doubles, the UW-Whitewater team of Mitch Osborne and Ben Shklyar defeated Wong and Sam Wexman (Fr., Tiburon, CA/Tamiscal HS), 8-4.

Andy McGlashen and Andrew Bayliss of UWW won #2 doubles against Will Cooper (Jr., Gresham, OR/Centennial HS) and Gunnar Lee (Fr., Hilo, HI/St. Joseph HS), 8-2. In the #3 doubles match, Balkin and Kevin Friend downed Devin Abney (So., Shoreline, WA/Shorecrest HS/Univ. of Redlands) and Jack Schreiber (So., Solana Beach, CA/The Grauer School), 8-3.

All of the singles matches were decided in straight sets. The closest match was played at #4 singles, where Bayliss outlasted Abney in a first-set tie-breaker before winning, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3.

The Bearcats will play Middlebury College (Vt.) on Wednesday, March 27 at 11 a.m. (PDT) in Claremont. Middlebury is ranked #14 in NCAA Division III.