Gutierrez, Poltavski Win #1 Doubles, but Linfield Sweeps Singles for 8-1 Victory

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

SALEM, ORE. -- As they have done in almost every match this spring, Sabrina Gutierrez(Sr., Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS) and Denise Poltavski(Jr., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS) won #1 doubles for Willamette University on Wednesday, April 9, but Linfield College won the remaining matches to defeat the Bearcats, 8-1, at the WU Tennis Courts.

Gutierrez and Poltavski downed Linfield's top team of Caroline Brigham and Mackenzie Fraser, 8-3, to improve their record to 9-1 overall, including 7-1 in the NWC. Their only loss so far this spring was to Katrina Allick and Erin Bell of Whitman College, 8-6, on Feb. 22.

Linfield won #2 and #3 doubles on Wednesday for a 2-1 lead. The Wildcats swept the singles matches to gradually pull away. Linfield advanced its record to 9-2 on the season, 6-2 in the NWC. Willamette dropped to 4-6 overall, 2-6 in the NWC.

At #2 doubles, Linfield's team of Kaila Nip and Kelly Watanabe downed Alicia Sohn (Fr., Tustin, CA/Arnold O. Beckman HS) and Taylor Coggeshall (Fr., Sacramento, CA/Rio Americano HS) of Willamette, 8-1. Gretchen Jernstedt and Courtney Mostul won #3 doubles for the Wildcats, 8-0.

Brigham of Linfield edged Gutierrez in the #1 singles match by earning victories in two close sets, 6-4, 6-4. Gutierrez entered the match ranked #19 in the West Region in singles. It took a super tie-breaker for Nip to outlast Poltavski at #2 singles, 6-3, 1-6, 10-8.

Marisa Kume won the first set at #3 singles, 6-2, before having to hold off Sohn in the second set, 6-4. Jernstedt won a tight first set, 7-5, at #4 singles, and also defeated Emily Guimont (Jr., El Dorado Hills, CA/Folsom HS) in the second set, 6-3. Fraser achieved a win at #5 singles and Mostul prevailed at #6 singles.

Willamette will play at home again on Friday (April 11), when the Bearcats will host George Fox University. Match time at the WU Tennis Courts is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. (PDT).