April 20, 2007

PLU Cruises Past Linfield and Into NWC Title Match

David Miller

Justin Larimore

NWC Tournament Web Site

YAKIMA, Wash. - For 35 consecutive years, Pacific Lutheran has finished either first or second in Northwest Conference men's tennis.

The year 2007 will be no different as the No. 2 seed Lutes whipped No. 3 seed Linfield, 8-1, to move into the conference tournament championship match Saturday against No. 1 seed Whitman. The Missionaries, who were undefeated during the conference regular season, defeated Willamette, 9-0, in the tournament's other semifinal match on Friday.

The championship will start at noon Saturday at the Yakima Tennis Center.

Pacific Lutheran won the past two conference tournament titles and has garnered 27 championships in 35 years. Whitman won the 2004 tournament crown and hopes to unseat the defending champion Lutes. During the regular season, Whitman defeated Pacific Lutheran by 7-2 and 5-4 scores.

On Friday afternoon, the Lutes had little trouble getting past Linfield, which had cruised into the semifinals with a 9-0 win over Whitworth. PLU opened the match by winning all three doubles points, though two of the matches went into extra games. David Miller and Justin Larimore had no trouble at No. 1 doubles, beating Wes Gabrielson and Kyle Anderson, 8-3. The action was much tighter at No. 2 where Justin Peterson and Jeff Loranger were pushed to a super tiebreaker before beaging Ian McGrath and Jon Roberts, 9-8 (10-8). It was much the same at No. 3 where Jared Vidano and Kevin Floyd held on to beat Nick Reuss and Cole Shelton, 9-7.

The singles matches weren't nearly as close, however, as the Lutes rolled in straight sets in all of their victories. Miller was especially impressive at No. 1, whipping Ian McGrath, 6-1, 6-0. Also winning in straight sets were Floyd at No. 2, Loranger at No. 3, Larimore at No. 4 and Vidano at No. 6. Linfield won its only point at No. 5 singles where Anderson beat Peterson in a super tiebreaker, 3-6, 6-4, (10-1).

"They played really, really well," PLU coach Craig Hamilton said of his team. "Linfield has good doubles teams and we won all of those, and that got us some momentum for singles. If we play as well tomorrow as we did today we have a chance of beating (Whitman). I was very happy with today."

No. 2 Pacific Lutheran 8, No. 3 Linfield 1

SINGLES
1. David Miller (PLU) def. Ian McGrath (LIN), 6-1, 6-0
2. Kevin Floyd (PLU) def. Wes Gabrielson (LIN), 6-3, 6-2
3. Jeff Loranger (PLU) def. Nick Reuss (LIN), 6-4, 6-3
4. Justin Larimore (PLU) def. Jon Roberts (LIN), 6-2, 6-1
5. Kyle Anderson (LIN) def. Justin Peterson (PLU), 3-6, 6-4, 10-1
6. Jared Vidano (PLU) def. Cole Shelton (LIN), 6-4, 6-1

DOUBLES
1. Miller/Larimore (PLU) def. Gabrielson/Anderson (LIN), 8-3
2. Peterson/Loranger (PLU) def. McGrath/Roberts (LIN), 9-8 (10-8)
3. Vidano/Floyd (PLU) def. Ruess/Shelton (LIN), 9-7

- PLU -