Pacific Lutheran Defeats Willamette, 6-3

By Timothy Walsh, Athletics Communications Writer

TACOMA, WASH. -- Sabrina Gutierrez(Sr., Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS) and Denise Poltavski(Jr., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS)earned victories at #1 and #2 singles -- and as a pair at #1 doubles -- but Pacific Lutheran University's depth propelled the Lutes past Willamette University, 6-3, in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match on Saturday, April 5.

The loss was the Bearcats' first in over a month, as Willamette dropped to 4-5 on the season, 2-5 in the NWC. Pacific Lutheran improved to 10-4 overall, 6-2 in the NWC.

Gutierrez and Poltavski earned the Bearcats' only victories on the day, both in the doubles and singles contests. At #1 doubles, the pair defeated Leah Newell and Samantha Lund, 9-7.

In the singles contests, Gutierrez defeated Lund 6-2, 6-1 at the #1 position, while Poltavski notched a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Newell at #2.

PLU prevailed in the remaining contests, but there were several close battles.

At #3 doubles, Taylor Coggeshall(Fr., Sacramento, CA/Rio Americano HS) and Alicia Sohn(Fr., Tustin, CA/Arnold O. Beckman HS) dropped an 8-4 decision to Megan Beyers and Emily Bower.

At the #5 singles position, meanwhile, Emily Guimont(Jr., El Dorado Hills, CA/Folsom HS) forced an extra game in the second set of her 6-3, 7-5 loss to Mariah Siemion.

Nebraska Lucas (Fr., Portland, OR/Cleveland HS) and Olivia Cavedoni(Fr., Kamuela, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) also competed for Willamette.

The Bearcats next compete on Wednesday, April 9, when they will host archrival Linfield College. The match is set to begin at 4 p.m. (PDT), and is tentatively scheduled to take place at the Willamette University Tennis Courts.