Willamette Shuts Out George Fox, 9-0, in Women's Tennis

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

NEWBERG, ORE. -- The Bearcats won all six singles matches and all three doubles positions on Saturday, April 4, as Willamette University shut out George Fox University, 9-0, in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match. WU moved to 7-10 overall and to 6-8 in the NWC. The Bruins dropped to 4-16 overall, 3-13 in the NWC.

The Bearcats gained an early edge by winning three highly contested doubles matches. All three doubles positions were decided by 8-6 scores. Leading the way for the 'Cats were Shannon Palmer (Fr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) and Jamie Slonaker (Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS), who defeated Mollee Robinson and Corinne Borrelli at #1 doubles.

Palmer also led Willamette's efforts in singles. She won the #1 match against Robinson, 6-1, 6-1. Alyssa Morrison (Jr., Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS) was victorious at #2 singles for the Bearcats, as she defeated Borrelli, 6-2, 6-1.

The #3, #4 and #5 singles matches were very competitive, but WU prevailed at all three spots in the lineup. Abby Funabiki (Sr., Pullman, WA/Pullman HS/Quinnipiac College) was the winner at #3 singles, while Fabi Dieguez (Fr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS/Oregon State Univ.) took #4 singles and Slonaker won at #5 singles.

Samantha Wong (Jr., Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) of Willamette downed Lauren Miller at #6 singles, 6-1, 6-1. Wong and Slonaker each improved to 7-4 in singles this season.

Saturday, April 4
At GFU Campus Courts, Newberg, Ore.

Willamette University 9, George Fox University 0

Singles
#1 - Shannon Palmer (WU) defeated Mollee Robinson (GFU), 6-1, 6-1
#2 - Alyssa Morrison (WU) defeated Corinne Borrelli (GFU), 6-2, 6-1
#3 - Abby Funabiki (WU) defeated Courtney Banks (GFU), 6-4, 7-5
#4 - Fabi Dieguez (WU) defeated Shanna Lesire (GFU), 7-6 (8-6), 6-2
#5 - Jamie Slonaker (WU) defeated Betsy Ann Penman (GFU), 7-5, 7-5
#6 - Samantha Wong (WU) defeated Lauren Miller (GFU), 6-1, 6-1

Doubles
#1 - Palmer and Slonaker (WU) defeated Robinson and Borrelli (GFU), 8-6
#2 - Morrison and Funabiki (WU) defeated Banks and Penman (GFU), 8-6
#3 - Wong and Kristen Dedijer-Small (WU) defeated Lesire and Liliya Abildayev (GFU), 8-6

Records:
Willamette University is 7-10 overall, 6-8 in the Northwest Conference. George Fox University is 4-16 overall, 3-13 in the NWC.