Trinity, Ranked #13, Sweeps Bearcats, 9-0
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS -- Trinity University (Texas), ranked #13 in the nation and #2 in the West Region of NCAA Division III, defeated Willamette University, ranked #13 in the West Region, 9-0, behind the efforts of four regionally-ranked players. The Tigers upped their record to 9-5, while Willamette dipped to 5-6.
Palmer and Gutierrez Provide Solid Play for Willamette
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS -- Trinity University (Texas), ranked #13 in the nation and #2 in the West Region of NCAA Division III, defeated Willamette University, ranked #13 in the West Region, 9-0, behind the efforts of four regionally-ranked players. The Tigers upped their record to 9-5, while Willamette dipped to 5-6.
The regionally ranked singles players for Trinity were Mackenzie Knoop, ranked #2, Thavindra Ekanayake, ranked #7, Kylie Hornbeck, ranked #8, and Katie Griffith, ranked #14.
Willamette also had a regionally ranked player in Shannon Palmer (Sr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS), ranked #20.
Both teams benefited from the efforts of a ranked team in doubles as well. Knoop and Ekanayake of Trinity were listed at #2 in the West Region, while Palmer and Sabrina Gutierrez (So., Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS) of Willamette were ranked #8.
A quality match was played at #1 singles, where Knoop of Trinity and Palmer of Willamette battled through two competitive sets. Both sets were close, with Knoop claiming a 6-3, 6-4 victory.
Another close contest was played between Griffith of Trinity and Gutierrez of Willamette at #3 singles. Griffith held off Gutierrez for a 7-5 win the first set and also won the second set, 6-3.
The Tigers got off to a solid start by winning all three doubles matches. At #1 doubles, the regionally ranked match-up pitted Knoop and Ekanayake against Palmer and Gutierrez. Knoop and Ekanayake upheld their #2 regional ranking with an 8-3 win.
Griffith and Hornbeck won #2 doubles over Emily Bee (Sr., Portland, OR/Lincoln HS) and Denise Poltavski (Fr., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS), 8-3. At #3 doubles, Stephanie Williamson and Kathleen Lundquist downed Elise Derby (Fr., Oakdale, CA/Oakdale HS), 8-2.
The Bearcats will conclude their Spring Break trip to Texas with a match against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor on Wednesday (Mar. 28). Match time in Belton, Texas, is set for 2 p.m. (CDT)/12 p.m. (PDT).
At #1 singles, two regionally ranked players, Shannon Palmer (#20) of Willamette and Mackenzie Knoop (#2) of Trinity, battled it out. Knoop won, 6-3, 6-4.