April 12, 2008

Lutes Finish Conference Season in Second

PLU 5, Linfield 4
PLU 9, George Fox 0

Pacific Lutheran defeated Linfield on Friday and George Fox on Saturday to finish its Northwest Conference schedule with a 14-2 record. With that, the Lutes wrap up the No. 2 seed and first-round bye in the Northwest Conference Championships scheduled for April 18-19 at the Yakima Tennis Club.

The Lutes had a tough battle against Linfield on Friday before they finally took a 5-4 win over the Wildcats, who have the third best record in the conference. Kevin Floyd and Justin Larimore picked up crucial points for the Lutes at the top of doubles and also in singles. Floyd and Larimore beat Nick Ruess and Kyle Anderson in No. 1 doubles, 9-8 (7-2), and both of them came back for singles wins. Floyd defeated Ruess at No. 1, 6-2, 6-1, and Larimore turned the numbers on Anderson at No. 2, 6-1, 6-2.

Those four points, combined with the an 8-6 win from Justin Peterson and Michael Manser at No. 2 doubles, gave the Lutes four points. Tory Silvestrin provided the difference for PLU, defeating Brad Henson at No. 6 singles, 6-4, 6-1.

On Saturday, the Lutes had little trouble with George Fox, beating the Bruins 9-0. Floyd and Silvestrin were the only PLU players who participated in singles against Linfield to come back against George Fox. Floyd beat Mac Ovenell at No. 1, 6-4, 6-2, and Silvestrin jumped all the way to No. 2 singles where he beat Nick Jenness, 6-7, 6-2, 1-0 (10-3). Other singles winners were Jared Vidano at No. 3, Scott Sheldon at No. 4, James Crosetto at No. 5 and John deMars at No. 6.

The Lutes also won all of the doubles points, including an 8-2 win for Floyd and Larimore at No. 1. Manser and Silvestrin teamed for the win at No. 2 and Vidano and Sheldon skunked their opponents at No. 3.

- PLU -