Whits roll past pair of top-25 teams

By: Gregg Petcoff

Men's Tennis | 2/14/2015 12:19:00 AM

WALLA WALLA — The 13th-ranked Whitman College men's tennis team commenced play in its annual quad on Friday with a pair of 8-1 non-conference victories in the Bratton Indoor Tennis Center over a pair of nationally-ranked Division III opponents.

The Missionaries started the day with an afternoon triumph over No. 18 Texas-Tyler before handling the 21st-ranked University of California at Santa Cruz Banana Slugs.

Whitman improved its season record to 3-1 with the lopsided conquests. Texas-Tyler and UCSC both drop to 1-2 on the season.

The Missionaries top five singles players --Colton Malesovas Zach Hewlin, Phil Locklear, Petar Jivkov, and Chase Friedman-- all posted 2-0 records on the day.

Both Jake Hoeger and James Rivers contributed victories at No. 6 for Whitman. Rivers emerged victorious in the win over Texas-Tyler and Hoeger delivered a three-set win against Santa Cruz.

Locklear also recorded a three-set victory. After splitting two 6-3 sets, Locklear outlasted his Texas-Tyler opponent 1-0 (8) in the final frame.

Rivers and Locklear teamed up to win twice at No. 2 doubles while Malesovas and Jivkov achieved similar success at No. 3.

"We had some tight doubles matches that could have gone either way," Whitman coach Jeff Northam said. "It (competing against two nationally-ranked teams) would have been a tall order for anybody.

"Our guys supported each other and we had a great crowd," Northam said. "The place was rocking."

Whitman's next outing comes Sunday at 9 a.m. when it wraps up the quad against No. 21 University of Redlands.

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Players Mentioned

Jake Hoeger: Sophomore; So.

Petar Jivkov: Sophomore; So.

Colton Malesovas: 5' 10"; Senior; Sr.

James Rivers: 5' 9"; Senior; Sr.

Chase Friedman: First Year; Fy.

Zach Hewlin: First Year; Fy.

Players Mentioned

Jake Hoeger
: Sophomore; So.

Petar Jivkov
: Sophomore; So.

Colton Malesovas
: 5' 10"; Senior; Sr.

James Rivers
: 5' 9"; Senior; Sr.

Chase Friedman
: First Year; Fy.

Zach Hewlin
: First Year; Fy.

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned

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