Feb. 28, 2009

Lutes Rally to Defeat Whitworth in Men’s Tennis

Box Score

TACOMA – Pacific Lutheran dropped all three doubles points but rallied to win five of the six singles matches to defeat Whitworth, 5-4, in a Northwest Conference men’s tennis match played Saturday at the UPS Tennis Pavilion.

Pacific Lutheran (6-3 overall, 6-2 NWC) opened its 2009 season with a convincing 9-0 win over Whitworth (7-4, 7-3) back on Feb. 6, but the visiting Pirates put up a strong battle before finally succumbing to the Lutes.

Whitworth took the early lead with a trio of 8-5 doubles wins from Michael Shelton and Joe Wales at No. 1, Colin Zalewski and Henry Williams at No. 2 and Colin Barrett and Kellen Oetgen at No. 3.

The Pirates needed just two singles wins to upset the Lutes, and they got one of those points when Zalewski defeated James Crosetto in three sets at No. 3, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-3. Whitworth also came close at No. 1 singles before PLU’s Joel Trudel pulled out a 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4 victory over Shelton.

After that, the Lutes pulled out straight sets wins to seal up the 5-4 team victory. PLU singles winners, in addition to Trudel, were Michael Manser at No. 2, Zack AhYat at No. 4, Justin Peterson at No. 5 and Scott Sheldon at No. 6.

The Lutes return to action on Friday, March 6, when they play Willamette in Salem, Ore.

- PLU -