GEORGE FOX 8, LEWIS & CLARK 1: Bruins Beat Pios to Keep NWC Tourney Hopes Alive

NEWBERG, Ore. - Keeping alive their hopes of finishing fourth in the Northwest Conference and earning a spot in the NWC Tournament on April 16-17, the George Fox University Bruins picked up a crucial 8-1 win over the Lewis & Clark College Pioneers in men’s tennis action Saturday afternoon here at the GFU campus courts.

The Bruins’ win, coupled with Pacific University’s 9-0 loss at home to league-leading Whitman College, moved George Fox into sole possession of fourth place at 5-5, half a game ahead of Pacific’s 4-5 mark and Linfield College’s 5-6 record.  The Bruins are 6-8 overall.  Lewis & Clark fell to 0-14 overall and 0-10 in the conference.

The Bruins got off to a good start against the Pioneers by sweeping the doubles.  Peter Brown and Josiah Jackson edged George Allen and Quinn Roth-Carter 9-7 at No. 1, Preston Mann and Justin McClain overpowered Kerry White and Sam Franer 8-1 at No. 2, and Nolan Staples and Pax Magaway downed Muneeb Khan and Cole Pfeiffer 8-4 at No. 3.

Lewis & Clark notched its only win at No. 1 singles as Allen dropped McClain 6-3, 6-4, but the Bruins swept the rest of the singles matches in straight sets.  Mann conquered Roth-Carter 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2; Brown beat Pfeiffer 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3; Magaway whipped White 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4; Staples stopped Sam Franer 6-1, 6-1, at No. 5; and Andy Tweet topped Gabriel Trepanier 6-0, 6-2 at No. 6.

“This was a good solid effort by the young Bruins today to regain fourth place,” said George Fox coach Neal Ninteman.  “With Scott Barnett, our No. 1 player, out resting an injury, our lineup consisted of one sophomore and six freshmen, two of whom - Staples and Magaway - picked up their first career singles wins.  With such a young team, to be in the position we’re in heading in to the last week of the season says a lot about the character of these guys; they are a special group of young men.” 

NEXT: George Fox visits Pacific Tuesday for a 3:30 p.m. match that will go a long way toward determining the NWC Tournament field ... Lewis & Clark goes to Pacific Friday at 5:00 p.m.