Bearcats Cruise Past Lutes, 8-1, in Women's Tennis

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University rolled past Pacific Lutheran University, 8-1, in Northwest Conference women's tennis action on Friday, April 3 at the Courthouse Tennis Club. WU won all three doubles matches and claimed victories at five of six singles positions. PLU's only triumph was at #2 singles.

The Bearcats improved to 6-10 overall, 5-8 in the NWC. Pacific Lutheran dropped to 1-16 overall, including 1-13 in the NWC.

Shannon Palmer (Fr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) of Willamette won #1 singles. She defeated Ashley Brooks, 6-1, 6-1. Ashley Coats of PLU earned the Lutes' lone win by rallying from a set down in the #2 match to outlast Abby Funabiki (Sr., Pullman, WA/Pullman HS/Quinnipiac Univ.), 4-6, 6-3, 10-6. The match was decided by a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set.

Alyssa Morrison (Jr., Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS) took #3 singles for WU, as she easily defeated Kristi Bruner, 6-2,6-0. Morrison also combined with Funabiki for an 8-6 victory over Coats and Ali Burnside at #2 doubles.

The Bearcats won #1 doubles, 8-2. Palmer and Jamie Slonaker (So., Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS) earned the win by downing Brooks and Caitlyn Hoerr.

WU completed the sweep of doubles with a triumph in the #3 match. Samantha Wong (Jr., Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) and Kristen Dedijer-Small (Fr., Dallas, OR/Oaks Christian HS/Chemeketa CC) held off Bruner and Heidi Weston, of PLU, 8-5.

Friday, April 3
At Courthouse Tennis Club, Salem, Ore.

Singles
#1 - Shannon Palmer (WU) defeated Ashley Brooks (PLU), 6-1, 6-1
#2 - Ashley Coats (PLU) defeated Abby Funabiki (WU), 4-6, 6-3, 10-6*
#3 - Alyssa Morrison (WU) defeated Kristi Bruner (PLU), 6-2, 6-0
#4 - Fabi Dieguez (WU) defeated Ali Burnside (PLU), 6-1, 6-3
#5 - Jamie Slonaker (WU) defeated Heidi Weston (PLU), 6-3, 7-5
#6 - Samantha Wong (WU) defeated Caitlyn Hoerr (PLU), 6-3, 6-4

Doubles
#1 - Palmer and Slonaker (WU) defeated Brooks and Hoerr (PLU), 8-2
#2 - Morrison and Funabiki (WU) defeated Coats and Burnside (PLU), 8-6
#3 - Wong and Kristen Dedijer-Small (WU) defeated Bruner and Weston (PLU), 8-5

* Tie-breaker played instead of a third set

Records:
Willamette University is 6-10 overall, 5-8 in the Northwest Conference. Pacific Lutheran University is 1-16 overall, 1-13 in the NWC.