Men's Tennis Hosting Fox on Saturday

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Tennis fans can see the Whitman College men's team in action Saturday afternoon when it hosts George Fox in a Northwest Conference match.

The match begins at 2 p.m. and, depending on the weather, will take place in the Bratton Tennis or on the outdoor courts.

As it did a few weeks ago for its home match against U.C.-Santa Cruz, the men's team will provide free pizza as the match gets started with three matches in doubles. More than 200 hungry fans flocked to the Santa Cruz pizza give-away, and coach Jeff Northam is hoping for another good response from the Whitman faithful.

Matt Solomon

Whitman, the two-time defending NWC champion, is off to a 3-1 start on the season, which includes a 2-0 mark in conference play. The self-proclaimed Fighting Squirrels have won 53 consecutive regular season NWC matches.

The Bruins (2-1, 1-1) have a new coach in Neal Ninteman, an assistant professor of engineering and mathematics who has taught at George Fox since 2000.

Ninteman grew up in the Los Angeles/San Diego area, was introduced to tennis at a young age and took lessons at one point from the legendary Vic Braden. He also trained alongside Tracy Austin, who later became one of the top players in women's professional tennis.

Northam said he is pleased to see Ninteman "working to make both George Fox and the NWC stronger" in tennis. "I have no doubt that the Bruins team will improve in the years to come."

Saturday's featured match comes at No. 1 singles, where Whitman's Matt Solomon faces George Fox junior Scott Barnett.

Solomon, the NWC Player of the Year as a sophomore, took a leave of absence from Whitman last spring to play NCAA Division I tennis at Boise State.

Barnett was voted to the All-NWC Second Team last year.

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CONTACT: Dave Holden
Sports Information Director
Whitman College, Walla Walla, Wash.
509 527-5902; holden@whitman.edu