Willamette Drops Lutes, 8-1, in NWC Tennis

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University won all but one match in an 8-1 victory over Northwest Conference rival Pacific Lutheran University in women's tennis action on Saturday, Feb. 26. The Bearcats improved to 3-3 overall, 3-2 in the NWC. Pacific Lutheran fell to 0-4 overall, 0-4 in the NWC.

WU took a quick 3-0 lead by winning all three doubles matched by identical 8-2 scores. Natalia Agarycheva (Sr., Vancouver, WA/Prairie HS/U. of Northern Colorado) and Shannon Palmer (Jr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) won #1 doubles over Leah Newell and Tina Aarsvold.

Sabrina Gutierrez (Fr., Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS) and Kate Thurber (So., Salem, OR/South Salem HS) were the winners at #2 doubles against Deanna Ellmer and Hailey Rile. Emily Bee (Jr., Portland, OR/Lincoln HS) and Katie Huber (So., St. Peter, MN/St. Peter HS) defeated Caitlyn Hoerr and Saiyare Refaei at #3 doubles.

Agarycheva improved to 5-1 on the season and 5-0 in the NWC with a 6-3, 6-0 win at #1 singles versus Newell of PLU. Huber also won in straight sets at #2 singles, as she held off Aarsvold, 6-4, 7-5.

The closest match of the day was at #5 singles between Ellmer of Pacific Lutheran and Thurber of Willamette. Ellmer won in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, as he recorded the Lutes' only win. Ellmer's scores at #5 singles were 6-3, 1-6, 1-0 (10-7).

Jamie Slonaker (Sr., Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS) of WU went to 2-0 on the season with a 6-3, 6-3 victory against Saiyare at #4 singles.

The Bearcats will return to action on Friday, March 4 with a home match against George Fox University. Match time at the Willamette University Tennis Courts is set for 2:30 p.m. (PST).