Bearcats Fall to Occidental, as Men's Tennis Starts Spring Break

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

GLENDALE, Calif. -- Occidental College defeated Willamette University in men's tennis, 9-0, on Sunday, March 22, as the Bearcats opened their Spring Break trip to Southern California. The match was held at the Scholl Canyon Golf and Tennis Club. Occidental upped its season record to 4-6, while Willamette dropped to 2-7.

The #1 doubles match was won by Josh Dancu and Avery Chernin, as they defeated Gunnar Lee (Jr., Hilo, HI/St. Joseph HS) and Jacob Blaisdell (Fr., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School), 8-2. At #2 doubles, Avery Howard and Jesse Kreger of Occidental downed Blake Brash (Jr., Boise, ID/Boise HS) and Shrujan Kalidindi (Jr., Cupertino, CA/Monta Vista HS) of WU, 8-1.

Occidental's team of Eric Kazangian and Bryson Lee were victorious at #3 doubles, 8-2, over the Bearcats' team of Jack Schreiber (Sr., Solana Beach, CA/The Grauer School) and Derek Lund (Fr., Helena, MT/Capital HS).

It took a tie-breaker played instead of a third set to decide #3 singles. Chernin won the first set, 6-2, but Brash took the second set, 6-4. Chernin outscored Brash 10-4 in the tie-breaker to win the match.

The singles matches featured several other close sets. At #2 singles, Kazangian held off Schreiber, 6-3, 6-3. At #4 singles, Howard moved through the first set, 6-1, before edging out Kalidindi in the second set, 6-4. At #5 singles, Bryson Lee earned a 6-4 win in the first set against Blaisdell, and then triumphed in the second set, 6-1.

Willamette will play again on Monday, March 23, when the Bearcats are scheduled to take on Biola University. Match time in La Mirada, Calif., is set for 2 p.m. (PDT). The Bearcats will conclude their Spring Break trip on Wednesday, March 25 against California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., at 11 a.m.