FOREST GROVE, Ore. - In a match that could go a long way in determining the final spot at next week's Northwest Conference Championships, the Pacific Boxers just edged the Puget Sound Loggers, 5-4, in a NWC men's tennis match on Friday in Forest Grove, Ore.

The Boxers took the initial lead following doubles play after playing strong in all three matches.  Puget Sound's top team of Mike Cutter (Colorado Springs, Colo./Cheyenne Mountain) and Nick Kelley (Denver, Colo./Kent Denver) earned a 9-7 win to get the Loggers a point but the team of Scooter Sabel (Sun Valley, Idaho/Community) and Andrew Timmons (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View) fell just short in the third position, 9-8.

In singles play, Pacific got wins in the numbers one, five, and six spot to clinch the match but the Loggers earned three points to keep it close and ultimately clinch any tiebreaker with the Boxers, should the two teams tie in the final standings.  Cutter earned a three-set win in the second position, outlasting Spencer Hing, 6-4, 6-7, 6-2.  Kelley also won his individual match while Alex Harrison (Southborough, Mass./The Rivers School) earned a win over Hector Alcayde.

The Loggers end the 2010 regular season with a record of 5-11 overall and in NWC play.  Pacific moved within one match of the Loggers with two left to play but the Boxers need to pick up wins both on Saturday at George Fox and on Tuesday against Willamette to earn the final spot in the conference tournament.  The Loggers own the tiebreaker over the Boxers thanks to an 11-7 aggregate score in the two matches this season.