NEWBERG, Ore.—Top-seeded and #16 nationally-ranked George Fox University swept doubles en-route to a 5-0 win over #4 Lewis & Clark men's tennis on Saturday morning in the Northwest Conference Semifinals.
With the loss, the Pioneers season comes to an end with a 7-5 record.
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KEY MOMENTS
In the second meeting between the two sides in three weeks, the Bruins took advantage of a short-handed Lewis & Clark team to advance to their third-straight NWC Championship Match.
The Bruins, who won their first-ever title last season with a 5-4 win over Pacific University, will host #2 Pacific on Sunday at Noon.
With the Pioneers down one half of their top doubles pair, Lewis & Clark moved Alberto Dos Santos and Matt Chio up to number one doubles and paired Kristian Peev with senior Atticus Pallock.
The Bruins earned an 8-0 win over Dos Santos and Chio at number one doubles and defeated Miles Stone and Bennett Gazor 8-1 at third doubles.
Lewis & Clark's newest doubles pairing had the most success. Peev and Pallock took three games in an 8-3 loss to Camden Camacho and Vahag Pashayan.
George Fox would capture the match victory with 6-0, 6-0 wins at third and sixth singles.
Stone was playing the most competitive match of the day for the Pioneers. The sophomore was trailing 5-4 in the first set at fourth singles, when the match concluded.
DEEPER LOOK
- The two programs have met in three of the past four NWC Semifinals. Lewis & Clark defeated the Bruins 5-3 at Whitman in 2018, before George Fox earned a 5-1 win last year at George Fox.
- Chio was making his debut at number one doubles. Chio and Dos Santos had played all nine of their doubles matches together at second doubles this season.
- Pallock and Peev played together for the first time this season. It was the first time Pallock has played at number two doubles.
- The match was the final collegiate match for Pallock-the Pioneers lone senior.
WHAT'S NEXT
Lewis & Clark is expected to return all but one player for the 2022-23 season.
