By: Ryan Lackey

NEWBERG, Ore. --- The Bruins enjoyed two banner performances last weekend, sweeping Linfield 9-0 on Saturday before emerging with a hard-fought victory in a 5-4 slug-fest with Lewis & Clark on Sunday.

As befitting a 9-0 win, the Bruins were in top form down their entire roster. Spencer Watanabe and Andrew You won the #1 doubles match without dropping a single game, 8-0, and Chris Lilley and Chace Stalcup were nearly as dominant in the #2, winning 8-3.

In singles, Nick Ekern was especially good, winning the #5 match inscrutably, 6-0, 6-0. Watanabe took the #2 in similar fashion, finishing 6-0, 6-2.

On Sunday, though, the Lewis & Clark Pioneers made the Bruins work for their wins. The Bruins, led by their veterans, were up for the task.

"Chris [Lilley] was huge for us today," remarked head coach Neal Ninteman. "His exceptional play in both singles and doubles gave the whole team a boost."

Indeed, Lilley – along with in-form partner Stalcup – took the #2 doubles match in nail-biting fashion, winning 9-8 (7-2), a match that showcased great individual efforts from both Bruins.

Andrew You and Watanabe won the #1 match with a little more breathing room, 8-4, but were no less precise.

Andy's moment in the spotlight came later, in his #1 singles match against the Pioneers' Michael Brewer. After breezing through the first set 6-1, Andy dropped the second to the tenacious play of Brewer, setting up a third-set showdown.

You, true to form, was clinical in that third set, dispatching Brewer 6-2. After the match, Ninteman was elated.

"Andy's body was battling some tough injuries," he said, "but he simply would not give in and showed the heart of a lion in pulling out that three-set win over one of the conference's best players."

Elsewhere, the other Bruins also put in remarkable efforts. Lilley played an almost flawless game in the #2 singles, winning 6-1, 6-1. Watanabe did well in the #3, triumphing 6-4, 6-1. In the #4, Nicholas Grafton nearly clinched the Bruins' victory early, losing a heartbreaker 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (8-6). Vincent Viloria suffered a similarly difficult loss, dropping the #5 match by a hairsbreadth, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.

Mitchell Miyahsiro played fluid tennis but came up short in the #6, 6-1, 3-1.

Overall, the Bruins had an excellent weekend. With their record now at 7-1, they're poised to make an long run through the middle of their schedule.