Willamette Blanks Pacific Lutheran, 9-0

By Sara Brooks, Assistant Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6219

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University blanked visiting Pacific Lutheran University, 9-0, in the Northwest Conference women's tennis match on Saturday, April 3 at the Courthouse Tennis Club. WU is now 10-6 overall, 9-4 in the Northwest Conference. Pacific Lutheran is 3-13 on the season, 3-11 in the NWC.

The Bearcats won all six singles matches, although Jamie Slonaker (Jr., Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS) needed a win in a first-set tie-breaker to defeat Annika Swenson at #6 singles, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3.

In doubles #1 action, Natalia Agarycheva (Jr., Vancouver, WA/Univ. of Northern Colorado) and Fabi Dieguez (So., Salem, OR/Oregon State University) defeated Ashley Coats and Cora Wigen, 8-0. Agarycheva also defeated Wigen in singles #1 play, 6-0, 6-2. Agarycheva is now 11-1 in NWC singles play.

Shannon Palmer (So., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) earned victories in singles #2 and doubles #2 play. Palmer teamed with Alyssa Morrison (Sr., Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS) to defeat Ali Burnside and Kristina Aarsvold, 8-1.

Morrison also earned a victory in singles #5 play by defeating Caitlyn Hoerr, 6-0, 6-1. With the win, Morrison moved to 10-3 in NWC play this season.

The Bearcats will host Lewis & Clark College on Sunday, April 4 at the Courthouse Tennis Club at 10 a.m. (PDT). The match was originally scheduled for March 31, but was postponed due to the weather.

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

Willamette University 9, Pacific Lutheran University 0

Singles
1. Natalia Agarycheva (WU) defeated Cora Wigen (PLU), 6-0, 6-2
2. Shannon Palmer (WU) defeated Ali Burnside (PLU), 6-0, 6-1
3. Katie Huber (WU) defeated Kristina Aarsvold (PLU), 6-3, 6-2
4. Fabi Dieguez (WU) defeated Deanna Ellmer (PLU), 6-2, 6-1
5. Alyssa Morrison (WU) defeated Caitlyn Hoerr (PLU), 6-0, 6-1
6. Jaime Slonaker (WU) defeated Annika Swenson (PLU), 7-6 (7-1), 6-3

Doubles
1. Agarycheva and Dieguez (WU) defeated Coats and Wigen (PLU), 8-0
2. Palmer and Morrison (WU) defeated Burnside and Aarsvold (PLU), 8-1
3. Slonaker and Emily Bee (WU) def. Ellmer and Hoerr (PLU), 8-3

Records:
Willamette University is 10-6 overall and 9-4 in the NWC. Pacific Lutheran University is now 3-13 and 3-11 in the NWC.