Bearcats Win at Top Positions, but Lutes Prevail in Women's Tennis, 6-3

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Pacific Lutheran University earned victories at #2 and #3 doubles, as well as the bottom four positions in singles, as the Lutes defeated Willamette University, 6-3, on Saturday, March 1 at the Courthouse Tennis Center. PLU remained undefeated on the season at 4-0, while improving to 3-0 in the Northwest Conference.

Willamette, which received wins in singles from Sabrina Gutierrez (Sr., Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS) at #1 and Denise Poltavski (Jr., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS) at #2, fell to 1-4 overall, 0-4 in the NWC.

Gutierrez downed Leah Newell, 6-1, 6-2. Poltavski breezed past Samanhta Lund, 6-1, 6-0. In addition, Gutierrez and Poltavski put their efforts together at #1 doubles for an 8-1 vicotory over Newell and Lund.

Pacific Lutheran offset Willamette's win at #1 doubles with two wins for the Lutes. At #2 doubles, Megan Beyers and Allison McClure defeated Nebraska Lucas (Fr., Portland, OR/Cleveland HS) and Emily Guimont (Jr., El Dorado Hills, CA/Folsom HS), 8-2.

In the #3 doubles match, Mariah Siemion and Emily Bower of PLU moved past Taylor Coggeshall (Fr., Sacramento, CA/Rio Americano HS) and Alicia Sohn (Fr., Tustin, CA/Arnold O. Beckman HS)of Willamette, 8-3.

The Lutes completed the overall victory by winning in straight sets from #3 singles through #6 singles. Winning the singles matches for PLU were Beyers at #3, McClure at #4, Siemion at #5 and Bower at #6.

Willamette will travel to Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Ore., for its next match on Friday, Feb. 7. Match time is slated for 4 p.m. WU will return home to host College of Idaho in a non-conference match on Saturday, March 8 with doubles beginning at 9 a.m. at the Courthouse Tennis Center.