The Whitworth men’s tennis team suffered a setback on Saturday losing to conference foe Pacific University at the Hulce Tennis Courts in Forest Grove, Ore.

The Boxers won all six singles matches and two of the three doubles matches. Only the No. 3 doubles team of sophomore John Talbot and freshman Matt Goebel were able to beat the Boxers, winning 8-5. The doubles team of Talbot and Goebel remain undefeated this season, improving to 2-0 together.

The Pirates, now 2-1 in the conference, fell to fifth place in the league. The Bucs are 3-3 overall. Pacific improved to 4-0 in the conference and 4-1 overall as they maintain their lead in the NWC.

The Pirates kept most of the matches close, especially the No. 5 and No. 6 singles. Senior Ben Hamming lost to Pacific’s Eric Furuya 7-6(8-6), 6-3 in No. 5 singles and freshman Chris Engleman was defeated by Boxer Scott Kawamura 7-6(7-1), 7-5 in the No. 6 singles spot.

“I was really happy to see how the bottom half of our lineup did, they showed real potential,” junior Cameron Williams said. “We were in the matches even thought the score didn’t show it.”

Pacific’s No. 1 doubles team defeated Whitworth’s senior Daniel Redfern and Williams 8-4. Redfern was later defeated by the Boxer’s Troy Zuroske 6-3, 6-3 in the No. 1 singles match and Williams lost to Pacific’s Spencer Hing 6-2, 6-2 in the No. 2 singles match.

The men’s tennis team will stay home and play against the Community College of Spokane on Monday, March 5.

Contact Nathan Webber at [email protected].