2014-15 Women's Tennis News

Season
Bearcat Women's Tennis Team Receives Academic Honors from ITA
Poltavski Named First Team All-NWC for Third Consecutive Season
Poltavski Named First Team All-NWC for Third Consecutive Season

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University women's tennis player Denise Poltavski (Sr., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS) has been selected First Team All-Northwest Conference for the third consecutive season, as determined by the NWC head coaches. Poltavski previously earned First Team All-NWC honors in 2012-13 and 2013-14 after being named Second Team All-NWC in 2011-12.

Smith Selected as NWC Women's Tennis Student-Athlete of the Week
Smith Selected as NWC Women's Tennis Student-Athlete of the Week

SALEM, ORE. -- Mikaila Smith (Fr., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS) of Willamette University has been chosen as the Northwest Conference Women's Tennis Student-Athlete of the Week for her strong play against Linfield College on April 15 and George Fox University on April 19.  It is the second time Smith has received the Student-Athlete of the Week award this year.

Poltavski Finishes Strong, but George Fox Defeats Bearcats, 6-3
Poltavski Finishes Strong, but George Fox Defeats Bearcats, 6-3

SALEM, Ore. -- George Fox University lost the top two matches in singles and the top match in doubles, but the Bruins defeated Willamette University, 6-3, on Sunday, April 19 at the WU Tennis Courts.

Linfield Downs Willamette in Women's Tennis, 8-1
Linfield Downs Willamette in Women's Tennis, 8-1

McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Linfield College, ranked #36 in NCAA Division III and #9 in the West Region, defeated Willamette University, 8-1, in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match on Wednesday, April 14. The Wildcats upped their record to 14-4 overall, 9-2 in the NWC, while Willamette dropped to 2-16, 1-10 in the NWC.

Willamette Set to Play at Linfield and Host George Fox
Willamette Set to Play at Linfield and Host George Fox

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University women's tennis team will complete the 2014-15 season with two matches this week. The Bearcats will play at Linfield College on Wednesday, April 15 at 4 p.m. (PDT) and will host George Fox University at the WU Tennis Courts on Sunday, April 19 at 12 p.m.

Pacific Earns Slim Win over Willamette, 5-4, in Women's Tennis
Pacific Earns Slim Win over Willamette, 5-4, in Women's Tennis

FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Jelena Vidovic of Pacific University earned a win at #1 singles to improve to 14-1 on the season and lead the Boxers to a 5-4 victory over Willamette University in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match on Sunday, April 12. The Boxers upped their record to 6-9 overall, 3-8 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 2-15, 1-9 in the NWC.

Nationally-Ranked Missionaries Down Bearcats, 8-1, in Women's Tennis
Nationally-Ranked Missionaries Down Bearcats, 8-1, in Women's Tennis

SALEM, Ore. -- The nationally-ranked women's tennis team from Whitman College defeated Willamette University, 8-1, at the Courthouse Tennis Center on Saturday, April 11. Whitman upped its record to 13-5 overall, 10-0 in the Northwest Conference.

Willamette Looks to Finish Strong Down the Stretch
Willamette Looks to Finish Strong Down the Stretch

SALEM, Ore. -- With two weeks left in the 2014-15 season, the Willamette University women's tennis team will host nationally-ranked Whitman College on Saturday, April 11, before traveling to Forest Grove, Oregon, on Sunday, April 12 to take on Pacific University. The match against Whitman will start at 3 p.m. (PDT), while the match at Pacific will get underway at 1 p.m.

Poltavksi Chosen NWC Women's Tennis Student-Athlete of the Week
Poltavksi Chosen NWC Women's Tennis Student-Athlete of the Week

SALEM, ORE. -- Denise Poltavski (Sr., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS) of Willamette University has been named Northwest Conference Women's Tennis Student-Athlete of the Week for her efforts in matches against University of Puget Sound on April 3 and George Fox University on April 4.  It is the second time she has received the award this year.

George Fox Wins versus Bearcats in Women's Tennis, 6-3
George Fox Wins versus Bearcats in Women's Tennis, 6-3

NEWBERG, Ore. -- Willamette University won #1 and #2 singles, as well as #1 doubles, but George Fox University earned wins in the remaining matches, as the Bruins downed the Bearcats, 6-3, in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match on Saturday, April 4. With the victory, GFU improved to 9-7 overall and to 5-4 in the NWC.

Bearcats Prepare for Matches with Loggers and Bruins this Weekend
Bearcats Prepare for Matches with Loggers and Bruins this Weekend

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University women's tennis team returns from its three-match Spring Break trip in Southern California to take on University of Puget Sound on Friday, April 3 before playing at George Fox University on Saturday, April 4th.

Bearcats Earn Wins in Top Four Singles Matches to Defeat Puget Sound, 6-3
Bearcats Earn Wins in Top Four Singles Matches to Defeat Puget Sound, 6-3

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University registered victories at the top four singles positions on Friday, April 3, as the Bearcats defeated University of Puget Sound, 6-3, in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match at the Courthouse Tennis Center. In addition to winning four singles matches, the Bearcats triumphed at #1 and #3 doubles.

Caltech Rallies in Singles to Defeat Willamette, 6-3
Caltech Rallies in Singles to Defeat Willamette, 6-3

PASADENA, Calif. -- Trailing 2-1 after doubles, the California Institute of Technology rallied for five wins in singles to down Willamette University, 6-3, in women's tennis action on Wednesday, March 25. Willamette recorded wins at #1 and #3 doubles in addition to a victory for Denise Poltavski (Sr., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS) at #1 singles.

Willamette Falls to Nationally-Ranked La Verne, 9-0, in Women's Tennis
Willamette Falls to Nationally-Ranked La Verne, 9-0, in Women's Tennis

LA VERNE, Calif. -- University of La Verne, tied for #17 in the NCAA Division III national rankings released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), defeated Willamette University, 9-0, on Tuesday, March 25. La Verne, ranked #3 in the West Region, improved to 7-3 on the season, while Willamette fell to 1-11 overall.

Smith Selected as NWC Women's Tennis Student-Athlete of the Week
Smith Selected as NWC Women's Tennis Student-Athlete of the Week

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University athlete Mikaila Smith (Fr., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS) has been chosen as the Northwest Conference Women's Tennis Student-Athlete of the Week for her contributions to the Bearcats against Schreiner University (Texas) and Occidental College (Calif.).