Bearcat Women's Tennis Team Looks to Provide Solid Competition in 2015

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

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's tennis team plans to provide a tough challenge to every opponent during the 2015 spring season. The Bearcats will play every team in the Northwest Conference at least once and will take on four of the teams twice. In addition, Willamette will play four non-conference matches.

Willamette is set to open the season on Friday, Feb. 13 against College of Idaho at the Courthouse Tennis Center in Salem (1379 Madison St. NE). It also will be the season opener for the Lady Yotes. Match time is 1 p.m. (PST).

The other three non-conference matches will be played in California, with the Bearcats taking on Occidental College on March 22, University of La Verne on March 24 and California Institute of Technology on March 25. Head Coach Becky Roberts is in her 15th season leading the Bearcats.

"Assistant Coach Scott Hawes and I are excited about the upcoming tennis season," Roberts said. "The team has been working hard at practice and is ready to open the season."

Leading Willamette's lineup is Denise Poltavski (Sr., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS). She achieved a 12-3 record last spring and owns a career singles record of 34-12 in spring competition. She combined with Sabrina Gutierrez '14 for a 13-2 doubles record last year.

Poltavksi was named First Team All-NWC in 2013 and 2014. She was chosen Second Team All-NWC in 2012.

Other returning Bearcats are Emily Guimont (Jr., El Dorado Hills, CA/Folsom HS) and Alicia Sohn (So., Tustin, CA/Arnold O. Beckman HS). Guimont played mostly #4 and #5 singles last season, along with #2 and #3 doubles. Sohn competed at #3 and #4 singles in addition to #2 and #3 doubles.

The Bearcats have primarily a young team, with eight freshmen on the roster. The top newcomer is Mikaila Smith (Fr., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS), who won her first round match at the ITA Northwest Regional and went 1-1 in singles during two matches against George Fox University in the fall.

Other key freshmen include Katie Adams (Fr., McLean, VA/American International School), Ashley Evans (Fr., Canby, OR/Canby HS) and Ellen Rumley (Fr., Anchorage, AK/East Anchorage HS). All three showed the ability during the fall to earn a spot in the singles lineup.

Poltavski and Smith are likely to form the #1 doubles team for the Bearcats. They defeated George Fox's top team of Andrea Motley and Ali Diehl during the fall and split two matches at the ITA Northwest Regional. Poltavski and Smith downed Danielle Wicks and Lexi Normine of Pacific University, before falling in the Round of 16 to Erin Bell and Jenna Dobrin from Whitman College.

"Senior Denise Poltavski and freshman Mikaila Smith provide a real threat at #1 and #2 singles and at #1 doubles," Roberts said. "It will be exciting to watch them compete in a very deep conference."