April 4, 2008

MEN’S TENNIS: Lutes Chop Down UPS, Travel to Whitworth

THIS WEEKEND: Pacific Lutheran at Whitworth, Saturday, 10 a.m.

LUTES GO ON THE ROAD: Pacific Lutheran, ranked No. 29 in NCAA Division III men’s tennis, heads to eastern Washington for a Saturday morning match against the Whitworth Pirates. The Northwest Conference counter is the second of the season between the two squads. On a cold and blustery March 1 afternoon at the PLU courts, the Lutes whipped the Pirates, 8-1. PLU had little trouble against the Pirates and in fact did not lose a set during singles play.

WHAT’S AHEAD: Pacific Lutheran hosts a pair of Northwest Conference opponents and plays an exhibition next weekend in preparation for the conference tournament scheduled for April 18-19 in Yakima. The Lutes face Linfield at 2 p.m. next Friday and then play George Fox at 10 a.m. on Saturday. That match will be followed by an exhibition against Green River College in which the Lutes’ lower-ladder players will see action.

LUTES DO BUZZ SAW WORK ON LOGGERS: Pacific Lutheran improved to 11-2 in Northwest Conference action on Wednesday afternoon with an 8-1 victory over the visiting Puget Sound Loggers at the PLU courts. Kevin Floyd and Justin Larimore got the Lutes off to a strong start with an 8-2 win over Jamie Hosmer and Sam McCullugh at No. 1 doubles. Justin Peterson and Michael Manser got the measure of Nick Amlund and Alex Harrison, 8-3, at No. 2 doubles, and Scott Sheldon and Jared Vidano combined to take down Scooter Sabel and Carl Larson, 8-6, at No. 3 doubles, and the PLU rout was on. In singles play, Floyd, Larimore, Peterson and Manser all had easy straight-set victories in the one through four slots, and Sheldon skunked Larson, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 6.

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