The Pacific University men's tennis team dropped a narrow 5-4 to #16 Whitman College on Sunday at the Holce Tennis Courts.
The tension and energy filled the courts between two of the top tennis programs in the West Region. The Blues entered the match with a deceiving record of 2-6 with three losses coming at the hands of Division I teams and three more against other top 15 programs. Pacific was looking for its first win in the NCAA era of men's tennis against the Blues.
The Boxers took the first two doubles matches of the day, winning at No. 1 doubles (
Rayden Murata /
Koby Murata) and at No. 3 doubles (
Sean Murphy /
Jonathan Chung). The Murata brothers were victorious by an 8-3 margin over Ben Kirsh/Daniel Foster and Murphy/Chung teamed up for an 8-6 win over Adam Rapoport and Jacob Strobo.
As the match shifted to singles, a win at #2 singles by the Blues tied the match at 2 victories apiece. Kirsh put the visitors ahead with a 6-1, 6-3 win at #1 singles for a 3-2 advantage on the visitors from Walla Walla.
Then, Pacific freshman
Reyn Miyagawa picked up his sixth-straight win with a 6-3, 6-3 win at #3 singles to even the match back up at 3. The Blues clinched the match, winning at #4 and #5 singles. Sophomore
Jonathan Chung overcame a first-set loss to win at #6 singles, winning 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-6) to wrap up the day.
The Boxers will next travel for three matches in two days, when they face Pacific Lutheran on Saturday, Mar. 16 at 10 a.m. and Puget Sound on Sunday, Mar. 17 at 9 a.m. and NCAA Division I member, Seattle on Sunday, Mar. 17 at 10:45 a.m.
