WALLA WALLA, Wash. - The Whitman College men's tennis team opened the spring season on Saturday at the Bratton Indoor Tennis Center, falling to Division I Montana before blanking Whitworth in its first Northwest Conference match.
Montana 7 Whitman 0
Whitman's Division I foe proved to be too much to handle, but the Blues claimed a tremendous victory at first doubles. The Blues tandem of Noah Baker and Alexander Stage outlasted Montana's Tom Bittner and Eivind Tandberg for a hard-fought 7-5 win.
The first doubles victory came after the Grizzlies won on the No. 2 and No. 3 courts. Charles Rush and Artem Manov lost at the two before Lucas Huang and Cameron Yang fell at the three.
Montana won all six singles matches via sweeps with No. 6 singles proving to be the most competitive. Braeden Thomas competed well against Jake Watkins but eventually fell 6-3, 6-1
Whitman 7 Whitworth 0
The Blues returned in the afternoon for a dominant 7-0 win over Whitworth. The Blues won the doubles point after wins on the No. 3 then No. 1 courts. They clinched the point at the one when Stage and Baker teamed up for their second doubles win of the day.
Dominance followed in singles play as the Blues posted straight-set wins in all but one match. The match-clincher came at the four when Braeden Thomas took down Easton Weir 6-1, 6-2.
Whitman competes in its first conference road matches next weekend, traveling to Willamette on Saturday and Pacific on Sunday.
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