Men's Tennis Wins Epic Battle With Lewis & Clark

The Whittier College men's tennis team defeated the Lewis and Clark Pioneers 5-4 in a match-up that lasted nearly five hours on April 1.

The Poets lost two of their three double's matches, the exception being Lance Franey ‘09 and Ted Wyatt '11 who continue their winning ways at number two doubles, winning six of their last seven.

Justin DeLong ‘10 and Sean Robertson ‘10, showing no signs of a "Sophomore slump," continue to play the best tennis of their young college careers. DeLong won 6-4, 6-2 at number two singles and improves to 8-5 on the season. Robertson won at number three singles 6-1, 6-4.

Having lost at number one and five singles, the Poets needed to win their last two matches on court and did just that. as #6 Ryan Johnson, although not playing his best tennis, gutted out a 7-5, 6-2 victory, having been down 5-2 in the first set.

At #4 singles, Franey played "hero" of the day. Being the last and deciding match on court, things looked bleak for the Poets as Franey dropped the first set 7-6. However, demonstrating his fighting spirit and grit, Franey took the next set 6-1 and rallied from 4-2 down in the third to win the match 6-4 and the tie for the Poets.

"Lance produced what we brought him here to do, win matches in the clutch," Says Coach Bojalad.  "Most satisfying was the vocal support Ryan and Lance got from their teamates. We truly wanted this more than they did."

Things do not get easier for the Poets as they go up against Division I ranked Portland State Wed. at 2:30pm then George Fox on Thurs.

The Poets improve to 6-7 on the season having started 1-5.

Singles:

#1 Goerge Allen (LC) def. Ted Wyatt (WC) 6-0, 6-0
#2 Justin DeLong (WC) def. Luke Wheeler (LC) 6-4, 6-2
#3 Sean Robertson (WC) def. Dirk Frouws (LC) 6-1, 6-4
#4 Lance Franey (WC) def. Andrew Moller (LC) 6-7(1), 6-1, 6-4
#5 Peter Ray (LC) def. Denis Minaev (WC) 6-3, 7-5
#6 Ryan Johnson (WC) deg Mathias Kullowate (LC) 7-5, 6-2

Doubles

#1 Allen/Frouws (LC) def. DeLong/Robertson (WC) 8-6
#2 Franey/Wyatt (WC) def. Moller/Ray (LC) 8-4
#3 Wheeler/Kullowate (LC) def. Minaev/Johnson (WC)