Men's Tennis Gets Spring Break Trip Off to Great Start at Pacific

Despite multiple plane delays and a lack of proper pre-match preparation, the Whittier College Poets looked energized and refreshed in their 8-1 win over Pacific University as they started their spring break trip on March 31.

The win was the first of five matches in the next six days. The Poets remain in Oregon until Thursday where they will play the likes of Lewis and Clark College, Portland St. (D I), and George Fox only to travel back on Friday for a quick turnaround Saturday match against conference rival Caltech.

"We overscheduled over a short period of time earlier in the season," says Coach Bojalad, "We were not nearly as physically or mentally mature then. I think we are fit and up for the challenge."

The Poets swept the doubles, despite a near collapse at #2. Lance Franey ‘09 and Ted Wyatt ‘11 were up 7-2 and failed to serve for the match on three separate occasions, before finally prevailing in a tie-breaker 8-7. The pair has won five of their last six doubles matches.

In singles, Justin DeLong ‘10 excelled in the indoor conditions putting on a serving display with double digit aces and had a slew of forehand winners from the ground.

Nick Bollettierri prodigies, Sean Robertson ‘10 and Denis Minaev ‘11 both won their singles matches without dropping a single game.

Singles:

1. Michael Okada (PAC) def. Ted Wyatt (WC) 6-2, 6-3
2. Justin DeLong (WC) def. Patrick Kinghorn (PAC) 6-1, 6-1
3. Sean Robertson (WC) def. Justin Kinney (PAC) 6-0, 6-0
4. Lance Franey (WC) def. Nhat Nguyen (PAC) 6-3, 6-3
5. Denis Minaev (WC) def. Jeffrey Lee (PAC) 6-0, 6-0
6. Ryan Johnson (WC) def. Aaron Shapiro (PAC) 3-6, 7-5, 6-0

Doubles:

1. DeLong/Robertson (WC) def. Okada/Kinney (PAC) 8-1
2. Franey/Wyatt (WC) def. Kinghorn/Nguyen (PAC) 8-7(0)
3. Johnson/Benesch (WC) def. Lee/Ford (PAC) 8-4