There’s a first time for everything.
It has been more than 15 years since the Pacific men’s tennis team has made an appearance in the Northwest Conference men’s tennis tournament.
The drought has ended however, as the 2011 team will try for a title in the NWC championships for the first time since 1991.
On April 9 the Boxers beat Lewis and Clark in a 7-2 match that let the Boxers add another tally in their win column.
More importantly it guaranteed them the fourth place spot in the NWC.
Only the top four teams in the league receive a playoff spot.
This limit is a new change to the tournament. In past years the top six teams made up the tournament, but this year only four teams will be allowed to participate.
“We have had a really good season and it started with a really strong start,” said men’s tennis player Eric Furuya.
The NWC tournament is uncharted territory for both Head Coach Brian Jackson and the players on his roster.
“This is the first time any of us have been to the NWC tournament,” said Furuya. “We’re really excited to be going.”
The Boxers will be the fourth team heading into the tournament.
They will be accompanied by Whitman, Willamette, and Whitworth ranked respectively.
This season has been filled with successes for the Boxers’ tennis program.
The men finished at seventh place in 2009. They came in sixth place in the conference last year.
But a new season brings a new opportunity to succeed and the Boxers did just that.
According to Furuya, the Boxers have taken every step towards bettering their program and the work is paying off.
The April 9 match was the last one of the regular season and with that win Pacific will head into the NWC tournament.
The tournament will take place in Walla Walla, Wash. on Whitman’s home court on April 16.
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