TACOMA, Wash. – In a match that was a lot closer than it looked on paper, the Puget Sound Loggers fell to the Whitworth Pirates, 8-1, to open up the 2010 season on Saturday afternoon at UPS Tennis Pavilion in Tacoma, Wash.

Due to four conference matches scheduled on the six indoor courts, the Loggers and Pirates opened up the morning with the six individual matches. The Loggers’ lone win came in the sixth spot as Alex Harrison (Southborough, Mass./The Rivers School) defeated Kellen Oetgen, 7-5, 6-4.

Three singles matches went the distance as sophomores Sam Finkleman (Tacoma, Wash./Charles Wright) and Nick Kelly (Denver, Colo./Kent Denver) and senior Scooter Sabel (Sun Valley, Idaho/Community) all fell in three sets.

In doubles play, the Pirates swept past the Loggers to pick up the big win. The closest match came in the number one spot as Kelley teamed with freshman Mike Cutter (Colorado Springs, Colo./Cheyenne Mountain) before falling to Michael Shelton and Cameron Williams, 8-5.

The Loggers were scheduled to play Whitman later on Saturday before hitting the road next weekend, traveling to McMinnville, Ore. to take on Linfield in a match starting at 1:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon.