Bearcats Defeat Lewis & Clark in Women's Tennis, 7-2

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

PORTLAND, ORE. -- Willamette University won two of the three doubles matches and five of six singles matches to down Lewis & Clark College, 7-2, in Northwest Conference women's tennis action on Friday, Feb. 25. The Bearcats improved to 2-3 overall, 2-2 in the NWC. Lewis & Clark fell to 1-5 overall, 1-3 in the conference.

WU built a 2-1 lead in doubles. In the #1 doubles match, Natalia Agarycheva (Sr., Vancouver, WA/Prairie HS/U. of Northern Colorado) and Shannon Palmer (Jr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) providing the Bearcats with a win by easily defeating Whitney DeBree and Isabelle Borris, 8-2.

Emily Bee (Jr., Portland, OR/Lincoln HS) and Katie Huber (So., St. Peter, MN/St. Peter HS) of WU won by an identical 8-2 score against Makena McCluskey and Catherine Eichhorn at #3 doubles. L&C picked up a win at #2 doubles, as Jill Coleman and Olivia Sweetman downed Sabrina Gutierrez (Fr., Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS) and Kate Thurber (So., Salem, OR/South Salem HS), 8-3.

The Bearcats surged to their final score by winning five singles matches in straight sets. Agarycheva led the success in singles by rolling past DeBree, 6-1, 6-1, in the #1 singles match. Palmer repelled a solid effort from Borris to win #2 singles for Willamette, 6-4, 6-3.

Huber also won, taking a 7-5, 6-0 victory over Coleman at #3 singles. WU's other wins were earned by Gutierrez at #4 singles and by Jamie Slonaker (Sr., Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS) at #6 singles.

Lewis & Clark claimed its only singles triumph at the #5 position. Sweetman attained the win, as she defeated Bee, 6-4, 6-1.

The Bearcats play again on Saturday, Feb. 26, when they will host Pacific Lutheran University at the Courthouse Tennis Club (1379 Madison St. NE). Match time is set for 12:15 p.m. (PST).