TACOMA - Willamette won all three doubles points, but Pacific Lutheran won five of the six singles competitions to rally past Willamette, 5-4, in a Northwest Conference men's tennis match played Saturday at the UPS Tennis Pavilion.

Following doubles, the Bearcats seemed well on their way to their second win against the Lutes in as many tries this season. Joshua Wong and Cody Ferguson got the visitors off to a strong start with an 8-6 win over the region's No. 4-ranked team of Joel Trudel and Justin Peterson. Micah Mack and Matthew Houser topped Michael Manser and Scott Sheldon, 8-4, and Michael Baumgartner and Luke Lagattuta made it a Willamette clean sweep in doubles with an 8-6 victory over Brent Smoots and Taylor Dickey.

Pacific Lutheran turned the tide by winning both singles matches that went to three sets. At No. 3 singles, Justin Peterson beat Ferguson, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, and at No. 1 it was Trudel scoring a 6-3, 6-7 (7-4), 6-2 triumph over Wong in what proved to be the deciding match.

Other Pacific Lutheran singles wins came from Michael Manser, who topped House by a 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) count at No. 4, from Sheldon over Lagattuta, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 5, and from Dickey over Daniel McClellan, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 6.

Willamette's singles point came at No. 2 where Baumgartner beat Kevin Floyd, 6-2, 6-1.

With the win, Pacific Lutheran improves to 11-9 overall and to 9-5 in the conference. Willamette is now 9-6 this season and 9-4 in the NWC.

- PLU -