Box Score FULTON, Mo. - Aoi Ooka and Cole Horton won their doubles and singles matchups as No. 17 William Woods University (7-5) cruised to a resounding 6-1 victory over Bethel College (7-3) on Saint Patrick's Day Monday at Suzanne Neal Memorial Tennis Complex.

"Even though the result shows a comfortable 6-1 win, it was a lot closer than that," William Woods tennis coach Abigail Lemberger Hughes said. "We had some tough matches, and the guys really had to dig deep to get through some three-set matches. I was really happy with the overall result, and I am looking forward to our next test against McPherson on Friday."

From the get-go, the Owls set themselves up for a comfortable victory by winning the first two doubles matchups to finish: Horton and Paulo Lopes Ferreira won 6-3 at the three slot, then Ooka and Jesper Seger took their matchup at the two-line by the same result. With the team doubles point already decided, the Threshers' top doubles duo beat Noah Burton and Robbie Schorr 6-3.

Right after taking that loss, Burton - ranked 41st in the latest ITA NAIA men's tennis singles rankings released Thursday - won the first singles contest to finish, 6-2, 6-1 at the top position. Then, Ooka, ranked 71st, took a 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 decision at the three slot to increase WWU's team lead to 3-0.

Freshman Horton won the Owls' third singles matchup and secured the team triumph, winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 at the two-spot. Schorr made it five straight team points for William Woods, prevailing 6-0, 6-1 over Bethel's Moses Sawatzky at the six-line. Capping off The Woods' 6-0 team score run, Thomas Geukemeijer achieved a 7-5, 6-7, 6-2 victory at the five slot.

Seger dropped the Owls' only singles matchup, falling 6-4, 6-4 at the five.

William Woods continues its three-match week in Fulton, hosting McPherson College (6-3) at 3 p.m. Friday.