VANCOUVER, Wash. --- The George Fox men's tennis played in two critical matches this weekend, as the Bruins battled with Pacific on Friday and stormed by Willamette on Saturday.

The Bruins fell in a very close and tight match with the Boxers on Good Friday, 6-3. The Bruins didn't get off to the start they wanted in doubles, dropping both the No. 1 and No. 3 matches. Chris Lilley and Chace Stalcup won their match at No.2 over Giancarlo Battaglia and Oscar Wight, 8-6. Lilley improves his double play to 12-1 on the season, while Stalcup remains undefeated in doubles (10-0).

Spencer Watanabe recorded the first win for the Bruins in singles after Boxer' Brennan Faith was trailing 6-1, 4-1 and was forced to retire. Nicholas Grafton won his match at the No. 4 spot over Clark Wininger 6-2, 7-5, but the Boxers proved to be too tough taking No. 1, 3, 5 and 6.

The Bruins bounced back well the next day, as the team rolled over the Bearcats in an 8-1 fashion.

The Bruins swept doubles, and used that momentum in singles with both Watanabe and Lilley winning their matches at the No. 1 and No. 2 flight in straight sets. The Bearcats did manage to steal one from the Bruins at the No. 4 spot when Blake Brash defeated Vincent Viloria (6-1, 6-2).

George Fox improves to 11-6 on the season and 6-3 in conference play. According to the NWC standings, the Bruins are just two games back from first place with three conference matches left on the season.

The Bruins will travel to Lewis & Clark and Linfield this upcoming weekend (April 11-12) to see if they could shake things up at the top of the NWC standings.