Bearcats Take Down Wildcats in Men's Tennis, 8-1

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

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University gained wins throughout the singles lineup on its way to an 8-1 victory over Linfield College at the WU Tennis Courts on Friday, April 17. The match was originally scheduled for April 14, but was postponed due to the weather.

The teams played three competitive matches in doubles, with Willamette earning two wins.

Linfield took #1 doubles, as Kelsey Rosborough and Lukas Kleinman outscored Gunnar Lee (Jr., Hilo, HI/St. Joseph HS) and Jacob Blaisdell (Fr., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School), 8-6. At #2 doubles, Willamette's team of Sam Wexman (Jr., Tiburon, CA/Tamiscal HS) and Blake Brash (Jr., Boise, ID/Boise HS) defeated Ben McNair and Micah Roos, 9-7.

In the #3 doubles match, Shrujan Kalidindi (Jr., Cupertino, CA/Monta Vista HS) and Derek Lund (Fr., Helena, MT/Capital HS) of WU downed Joel Trousdale and Ben Brewer of Linfield, 8-5.

Willamette needed super tie-breakers played instead of third sets to win at #2 and #5 singles, but the Bearcats prevailed in straight sets in the other four singles matches.

At #1 singles, Jack Schreiber (Sr., Solana Beach, CA/The Grauer School) rolled past McNair, 6-2, 6-1. Lee rallied at #2 singles for a 3-6, 6-4, 10-6 win over Rosborough. Wexman took #3 singles, 6-2, 6-3, against Trousdale.

Brash moved past Kleinman at #4 singles with a 6-2, 6-0 triumph. At #5 singles, Blaisdell won against Roos in a super tie-breaker, 6-4, 1-6, 10-6. Kalidindi held off Tim Hawkins of Linfield in the #6 singles match, 6-3, 7-5.

Willamette won the season series with the Wildcats, 2-0. The Bearcats defeated the Wildcats 6-3 in McMinnville, Oregon, on March 14.

Up next for Willamette is a home mach against Pacific University on Saturday, April 18 at the WU Tennis Courts. The match will begin at 1 p.m. (PDT). WU will close out the season at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, on Sunday, April 19, starting at 1 p.m.