PORTLAND, Ore. — Lewis & Clark College men's tennis celebrated seniors Bennett Gazor and Matt Chio ahead of Sunday's Northwest Conference regular-season home finale, then earned a decisive 5-2 victory over George Fox University. The win snapped a 10-match losing streak against the Bruins and improved the Pioneers' standing in conference play.

THE BASICS

Lewis & Clark 5, George Fox 2
(Lewis & Clark 11-4, 8-3 NWC)
(George Fox 8-6, 8-2 NWC) 

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Pioneers secured the doubles point and captured four singles victories to clinch the win. Chio had a perfect 2-0 day in his final regular-season home match, teaming up with junior Spencer Loucks to win at third doubles, then earning a crucial singles victory to help secure the overall match.

In doubles play, George Fox struck first as Zach Moore and Keita Shoji defeated juniors Wade McDermott and Kai Wills 6-3 at the No. 2 position. Lewis & Clark quickly responded with sophomores Joey Lyon and Noah Sutin earning a 6-4 victory at first doubles against Ikuho Ebisu and Lars Schmassmann. The Pioneers clinched the doubles point when Chio and Loucks battled past Luis Hernandez and Jackson Whittaker 6-4 at the third spot.

The Bruins evened the score at the start of singles when Schmassmann defeated Lyon 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1. Moore then gave George Fox a 2-1 advantage by defeating Sutin 6-2, 3-6, 6-0 at No. 2 singles.

McDermott tied the match with a hard-fought 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 victory over Ebisu at third singles. Chio regained the lead for the Pioneers with a comeback win against Shoji, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4 singles.

Wills delivered a dominant 6-2, 6-1 victory over Hernandez at No. 6 singles, sealing the match victory for Lewis & Clark. The final singles match between first-year Arnav Bishnoi and Whittaker at the fifth spot was the most competitive of the day, with Bishnoi rallying to win 3-6, 6-0, 7-6 (4). The victory completed Lewis & Clark's first win over George Fox since April 21, 2018.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Lyon and Sutin improved to 9-1 in NWC doubles matches.
• Bishnoi is now 9-1 in his last 10 singles matches and 8-1 in conference play.
• Chio earned his 77th and 78th career wins and increased his season total to 26 victories.
• McDermott improved to 8-2 in NWC singles and a team-best 15-2 overall in singles play this season.

WHO'S NEXT

Lewis & Clark travels to Puget Sound on Saturday for a noon match in Tacoma as the Pioneers continue Northwest Conference play.