Match Results

By Roy Elia

PORTLAND - No. 14 nationally-ranked and Northwest Conference-leading Whitman, playing its first match since a March 19 victory at Redlands, displayed few ill effects from its spring-break layoff Saturday during an 8-1 triumph over Lewis & Clark at the Tennis Dome.

The Missionaries raised their NWC record to 8-0 and are 11-3 overall.

"It was a good day," Whitman coach Jeff Northam said. "It was a great effort for the guys - a good battle."

Andrew La Cava (No. 2), Andy Riggs (No. 3), Petar Jivkov (No. 4), Will Huskey (No. 5) and Alex Noyes (No. 6) all posted straight-set singles victories for Whitman. The tighest of those matchups were La Cava's 7-5, 7-5 decision over Kevin Ross and Huskey's 6-4, 7-5 win against Carter Gee-Taylor.

Whitman came within one three-set verdict of sweeping singles, but Colton Malesovas was nipped by Michael Brewer at No. 1, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4.

"It was nip and tuck," Northam said. "It was a hard-fought match and fun to watch."

La Cava and Malesovas, Riggs and Jake Hoeger, and Steven Roston and James Rivers swept doubles matches to commence the afternoon.

"It was a good start," Northam said. "It was competitive all the way. The guys competed and played well enough to win those matches.

"It was good for the guys to get back in the flow," Northam said. "They handled it well."

The Missionaries are scheduled to play at George Fox on Sunday at noon. If playing conditions at GFU are sub-par due to the weather, as was the case Friday when wet grounds resulted in the match being postponed, action will shift to Club Green Meadows and start at 2 p.m.