Bearcats Defeat Spokane 8-1 in Women's Tennis Exhibition

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University defeated the Community College of Spokane, 8-1, in a women's tennis exhibition match on Thursday, March 20 at the Courthouse Tennis Center. The match was an exhibition because Willamette competes in the NCAA, which does not count competition against community colleges as part of a team's official record.

The singles matches were played first, and Willamette took a 5-1 lead. Sabrina Gutierrez (Sr., Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS) provided a win at #1 singles, as she downed Sara Letsch, 6-1, 6-0. Denise Poltavski (Jr., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS) won for WU at #2 singles, 6-0, 6-1, against Sydney Obstar.

CC of Spokane picked up its only win at #3 singles, with Shaylyn Goodall defeating Alicia Sohn (Fr., Tustin, CA/Arnold O. Beckman HS), 6-0, 6-2. Willamette prevailed at #4 singles, as Nebraska Lucas (Fr., Portland, OR/Cleveland HS) fended off Dana Norris in the second set for a 6-1, 7-5 win.

Emily Guimont (Jr., El Dorado Hills, CA/Folsom HS) at #5 singles and Olina Cavedoni (Fr., Kamuela, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) at #6 singles, also won for the Bearcats. Guimont moved past Heather Birge, 6-0, 6-2. Cavedoni outlasted Lindy Brown, 6-3, 6-3.

Willamette did not lose a game at #1 or #2 doubles and took both matches 8-0. In the top match, Gutierrez and Poltavski defeated Letsch and Goodall. At #2 doubles, Lucas and Guimont downed Norris and Birge. At #3 singles, Willamette's team of Sohn and Taylor Coggeshall (Fr., Sacramento, CA/Rio Americano HS) took an 8-4 victory over Brown and Paula Seymour.

The Bearcats will not play again until Saturday, April 5, when they will take on Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, Wash. Match time is scheduled for 1 p.m. (PDT).

Thursday, March 20

At Courthouse Tennis Center, Salem, Ore.
Willamette University 8, Community College of Spokane 1 (Exhibition)

Singles

#1 - Sabrina Gutierrez(WU) defeated Sara Letsch (CCS), 6-1, 6-0
#2 - Denise Poltavski (WU) defeated Sydney Obstar (CCS), 6-0, 6-1
#3 - Shaylyn Goodall (CCS) defeated Alicia Sohn (WU), 6-0, 6-2
#4 - Nebraska Lucas (WU) defeated Dana Norris (CCS), 6-1, 7-5
#5 - Emily Guimont (WU) defeated Heather Birge (CCS), 6-0, 6-2
#6 - Olina Cavedoni (WU) defeated Lindy Brown (CCS), 6-3, 6-3

Doubles
#1 - Gutierrez and Poltavski (WU) defeated Letsch and Goodall (CCS), 8-0
#2 - Lucas and Guimont (WU) defeated Norris and Birge (CCS), 8-0
#3 - Sohn and Taylor Coggeshall (WU) defeated Brown and Paula Seymour (CCS), 8-4