Three Bruins to Compete in Prestigious Ojai Tennis Tournament This Weekend

NEWBERG, Ore. - Although the 2010-11 men’s tennis regular season is over for the George Fox University Bruins, three members of this year’s team - Peter Brown, Preston Mann, and Justin McClain - will see their seasons continue this weekend in the Men’s Division III section of the 111th Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament in Ojai, Calif.

A fourth Bruin - No. 1 player Scott Barnett - was also invited, but has chosen not to play in order to participate in graduation ceremonies at George Fox on Saturday.  Barnett, the Northwest Conference Men’s Tennis Sportsman of the Year and an honorable mention All-NWC honoree, is a junior in eligibility but an academic senior majoring in writing literature.  A two-time Second Team All-NWC selection, this year he posted a record of 4-9 in singles and 4-10 in doubles.

Brown, a transfer from Spokane Falls Community College, went 5-11 for the Bruins while splitting time between the No. 2 and No. 4 singles, and 7-9 at No. 2 doubles, usually paired with Josiah Jackson.  Mann, who also received honorable mention All-NWC, was the Bruins’ top winner, going 10-6 with time at both No. 2 and No. 3 singles, and was 5-11 in doubles, most often with Barnett at No. 1.  McClain went 6-10 in singles, primarily at No. 3, and 8-8 in doubles while teaming primarily with Andy Tweet.

The Ojai Tournament takes place on 100 courts at 30 different locations around western Ventura County.  The George Fox players will see their first action on Friday, Apr. 29, with all of their first and second-round matches at Moranda Park in Port Hueneme, Calif.

At 8:00 a.m. on Friday, McClain takes on Darren Dahl of the University of Redlands and Mann meets Nick Tagliarino of Pomona-Pitzer Colleges.  The winner of the McClain-Dahl match will play No. 8 seed Chris Weichert of Pomona-Pitzer at 11:30 a.m. while the Mann-Tagliarino winner advances against No. 2 seed Alex Lane of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges at 12:15 p.m.

In doubles, Brown and McClain will square off against Andy Hansen and Chris Schommer of Whittier College at 3:00 p.m. Friday.  The advancing duo will meet No. 3 seed Jeff Casserd and Cameron Spearman of Redlands shortly thereafter at 4:30 p.m.

"This is quite an honor for us to have four players invited to such a prestigious event,” said second-year George Fox coach Neal Ninteman, who guided the Bruins to a 6-10 overall record and a fifth-place finish at 5-7 in the conference, one place away from a berth in the NWC Tournament.  “It is a huge weekend, with division tournaments for large colleges, small colleges, and community colleges, as well as juniors.  The Pac 10 Tournament is held here at the same time.  I think that having several players competing here indicates that our program is heading in the right direction.”

The main Ojai Tournament website is at http://www.ojaitourney.org/, while the small college draw and results are at http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=99868.