George Fox Gains Narrow Win over Bearcats, 5-4
NEWBERG, ORE. -- George Fox University won three of six singles matches to add to a 2-1 lead in doubles, as the Bruins edged Willamette University, 5-4, in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match on Sunday, April 15. George Fox moved to 8-11 on the season, 3-9 in the Northwest Conference.
Palmer Defeats Beaumont at #1 Singles
NEWBERG, ORE. -- George Fox University won three of six singles matches to add to a 2-1 lead in doubles, as the Bruins edged Willamette University, 5-4, in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match on Sunday, April 15. George Fox moved to 8-11 on the season, 3-9 in the Northwest Conference.
Willamette concluded its regular season at 7-9, including 5-7 in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats are in the running for one of four berths into the NWC Tournament, which will be held next weekend (April 21-22).
Sunday's competition began on Tuesday, April 10, but rain in the Willamette Valley forced the action to be suspended shortly after the doubles matches were completed. GFU took a 2-1 lead into Sunday's continuation of play.
Willamette's Shannon Palmer (Sr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS), ranked #19 in the West Region of NCAA Division III, defeated Molly Beaumont of GFU at #1 singles 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, 6-4 in a three-set match. Willamette also won #2 and #3 singles, but the Bruins won #4, #5 and #6 singles to secure the overall win.
At #2 singles, WU's Sabrina Gutierrez (Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS) downed Alyssa Emoto, 6-1, 6-2. In the #3 singles match, Denise Poltavski (Fr., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS) won for the Bearcats over Shaina Inn, 6-3, 6-2.
Cara Griffith of George Fox won a quick first set, but needed a tie-breaker in the second set before winning #4 singles against Emily Bee (Sr., Portland, OR/Lincoln HS), 6-0, 7-6 (7-3). At #5 singles, GFu's Chantelle Hadeed edged Emily Funabiki (So., Pullman, WA/Pullman HS) in two very close sets, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4. Alissandra Wittig of GFU won #6 singles over Elise Derby (Fr., Oakdale, CA/Oakdale HS), 6-2, 6-4.
On Tuesday, George Fox earned wins at #1 and #3 doubles.
In the #1 doubles match, the Beaumont and Inn defeated Palmer and Gutierrez, 8-2. At #3 doubles, Bethany Nguyen and Marissa Chau won for the Bruins against Funabiki and Hailey Arnold (Fr., Winnetka, IL/Lake Forest Academy) in a close match, 9-7.
The Bearcats won #2 doubles, as Poltavski and Bee gained an edge against Emoto and Griffith, 8-4.
Shannon Palmer rallied past Molly Beaumont at #1 singles, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, 6-4