March 3, 2007

Whitman Rallies in Singles Play to Defeat Lutes, 5-4

WALLA WALLA, Wash. - After getting swept by arch-rival Pacific Lutheran in doubles, the Whitman men's tennis team rallied to win five of six matches in singles for a 5-4 Northwest Conference victory Saturday morning in the Bratton Tennis Center.

Winning their sixth consecutive match, the Missionaries improved to 11-0 in the NWC and 12-2 overall. The Lutes fell to 4-4 on season and 4-2 in conference.

Pacific Lutheran, which dropped a 7-2 decision to Whitman last month in Tacoma, came out firing in doubles. Senior David Miller and junior Justin Larimore gave the Lutes an 8-6 victory at No. 1 doubles, and senior Justin Loranger and freshman Justin Peterson were winners by the same score at No. 2 doubles. Senior Jared Vidano and freshman Kevin Floyd completed the sweep with an 8-3 triumph at No. 3.

Whitman senior Steven Ly, playing at No. 2 singles, tallied the first Missionary team point with a quick 7-5, 6-2 win. But when Loranger squeaked by Whitman senior Robbie Munday 6-4, 7-5 at No. 3 singles, the Lutes took a 4-1 lead and needed just more victory in the four remaining matches to clinch the upset.

Whitman freshman Matt Solomon, after falling behind 3-0 in his first set at No. 4, rallied for a 7-5, 7-6 (9-7) victory. In a back-and-forth second-set tie-breaker, Solomon jumped in front 5-1 and fell behind 6-5 before finishing off his opponent.

In the No. 1 singles match, senior Phalkun Mam worked his way to a 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 victory that sliced Pacific Lutheran's lead to 4-3. That left the match hinging on No. 5 and No. 6 singles.

Christoph Fuchs, a Whitman sophomore playing his first season of college tennis, won 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 at No. 5, and Missionary freshman Dan Wilson posted a 6-2, 6-3 victory at No. 6 to complete the Missionary comeback.

Staging the rally against a high quality opponent added to the accomplishment, Northam added. "PLU is a very, very good team. They certainly played much better today, especially in doubles, than they did earlier this season. The Lutes always seem to play well in our building. They beat us here last year after we had beat them in Tacoma.

Doubles:
No. 1 -- Miller-Larimore (PLU) def. Mam-Ly, 8-6
No. 2 -- Loranger-Peterson (PLU) def. Nadeem Kassam-Solomon, 8-6
No. 3 -- Floyd-Vidano (PLU) def. Fuchs-Munday, 8-3

Singles:
No. 1 -- Phalkun Mam (Whitman) def. David Miller, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2
No. 2 -- Steven Ly (Whitman) def. Kevin Floyd, 7-5, 6-2
No. 3 -- Jeff Loranger (PLU) def. Robbie Munday, 6-4, 7-5
No. 4 -- Matt Solomon (Whitman) def. Justin Larimore, 7-5, 7-6 (9-7)
No. 5 -- Christoph Fuchs (Whitman) def. Justin Peterson, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
No. 6 -- Dan Wilson (Whitman) def. Jared Vidano, 6-2, 6-3

(Courtesy Whitman Sports Information Office)