Women's Tennis Defeats Puget Sound, 5-4

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110 and Sara Brooks, Assistant Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6219

TACOMA, WASH. -- The Willamette University women's tennis team defeated the University of Puget Sound, 5-4, at the UPS Tennis Pavilion on Saturday, Feb. 20. Alyssa Morrison (Sr., Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS) provided Willamette with the winning point when she won #2 singles in three-sets.

The Bearcats and the Boxers were tied 4-4 with only the #2 singles match still underway. Morrison rallied from a loss in the first set to defeat Madison Holtz of UPS, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4. It was the only three-set match of the day.

Willamette improved to 4-1 overall, 4-1 in the Northwest Conference. Puget Sound fell to 0-5 overall, 0-5 in the NWC.

Morrison also contributed to one of WU's two victories during doubles play. She combined with Fabi Dieguez (Salem, OR/Sprague HS/Oregon State Univ.) to win #2 doubles over Maddie Thiesse and Ada Yu, 8-5. WU also took #1 doubles, as Natalia Agarycheva (Jr., Vancouver, WA/Prairie HS/Univ. of Northern Colorado) and Kate Thurber (Fr., Salem, OR/South Salem HS) defeated Samantha Taylor and Holtz, 8-1.

Puget Sound won a point at #3 doubles, with Ashley Dombrow and Katie Hurley edging out Emily Bee (So., Portland, OR/Lincoln HS) and Jamie Slonaker (Jr., Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS), 9-7.

Agarycheva of Willamette breezed past Taylor, 6-0, 6-0 at #1 singles, and Slonaker won for the Bearcats against Devin Fields, 6-4, 6-2, at #5 singles. Even so, Willamette needed Morrison's comeback at #2 singles to win the overall match after the Loggers triumphed at the #3, #4 and #6 positions. Morrison improved to 5-0 in singles this year.

Willamette returns to action on Friday, Feb. 26 against Pacific Lutheran University. The match will be played indoors on the University of Puget Sound campus. Match time in Tacoma, Wash., is set for 8 p.m. (PST).

Saturday, Feb. 20
At UPS Tennis Pavilion, Tacoma, Wash.

Willamette University 5, University of Puget Sound 4

Singles
#1 - Natalia Agarycheva (WU) defeated Samantha Taylor (UPS), 6-0, 6-0
#2 - Alyssa Morrison (WU) defeated Madison Holtz (UPS), 1-6, 6-1, 6-4
#3 - Maddie Thiesse (UPS) defeated Fabi Dieguez (WU), 6-1, 6-2
#4 - Ada Yu (UPS) defeated Kate Thurber (WU), 6-3, 6-1
#5 - Jamie Slonaker (WU) defeated Devin Fields (UPS), 6-4, 6-2
#6 - Ashley Dombrow (UPS) defeated Brooke Sessums (WU), 6-4, 6-2

Doubles
#1 - Agarycheva and Thurber (WU) defeated Taylor and Holtz (UPS), 8-1
#2 - Dieguez and Morrison (WU) defeated Thiesse and YU (UPS), 8-5
#3 - Dombrow and Katie Hurley (UPS) defeated Slonaker and Emily Bee (WU), 9-7

Records:
Willamette University is 3-1 overall, 3-1 NWC. Pacific University is 1-3 overall, 1-3 NWC.