Willamette Defeats Pacific, 6-3, to Sweep Season Series

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

FOREST GROVE, ORE. -- Willamette University won all three doubles matches and then split the six singles matches, as the Bearcats defeated Pacific University, 6-3, on Saturday, April 12 at the Holce Tennis Courts.

The victory gave WU a sweep of the season series with Pacific. In the first meeting of the season, the Bearcats downed the Boxers 7-2 at the WU Tennis Courts on March 15.

Willamette improved its record to 5-7 overall, including 3-7 in the Northwest Conference. Pacific dropped to 2-12 on the season, 0-10 in the NWC.

Senior Sabrina Gutierrez (Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS) and junior Denise Poltavski (Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS) won their ninth consecutive #1 doubles match with an 8-4 triumph over Kaitlyn Lomartire and Kelsey Lack. Gutierrez and Poltavski upped their overall record to 11-1, including 9-1 in NWC action.

The Bearcats gained a big lead by also prevailing at #2 and #3 doubles.

In the #2 match, Alicia Sohn (Fr., Tustin, CA/Arnold O. Beckman HS) and Nebraska Lucas (Fr., Portland, OR/Cleveland HS) downed Carlee Rhodaback and Danielle Wicks, 8-4. The #3 match was won by Taylor Coggeshall (Fr., Sacramento, CA/Rio Americano HS) and Olina Cavedoni (Fr., Kamuela, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) over Esbeida Ramos and Kelly Flores, 8-1.

Willamette added wins at #2, #3 and #4 singles to secure the team victory. Poltavski won #2 singles by nearly sweeping past Rhodaback, 6-1, 6-0. Sohn also won 6-1, 6-0, as she defeated Wicks at #3 singles. Lucas took the win at #4 singles against Lack in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, 6-3, 4-6, 10-4.

Lomartire of Pacific also won in a super tie-breaker to slip past Gutierrez. Lomartire claimed the first set 6-2, but Gutierrez evened things up with a 7-6 (7-4) win in the second set. Lomartire outscored Gutierrez 10-7 in the super tie-breaker.

Additional tie-breakers were involved at #5 and #6 singles. In the #5 match, Danielle Hunter from Pacific outlasted Coggeshall, 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 10-7. At #6, Ramos won after Cavedoni had to retire prior to the start of the second set. Cavedoni was leading after a victory in the first set, 7-6 (8-6).

Willamette will conclude the season with two home matches. The Bearcats will take on Whitworth University on Friday, April 18 at 2 p.m. (PDT) and will face Whitman College on Saturday, April 19 at 9:30 a.m. Both matches will be at the WU Tennis Courts, but will move to the Courthouse Tennis Center (1379 Madison St. NE) if the weather is bad.