Willamette Returns Home for Two Northwest Conference Matches

By Evan Giddings, Student Assistant Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, ORE. -- After spending last weekend in the State of Washington, the Willamette University women's tennis team returns home this weekend to take on the top two teams in the Northwest Conference. First, the Bearcats will play archrival Linfield College on Saturday, March 14. Then on Sunday, March 15, Willamette with compete against Lewis & Clark College.

Both matches are set to begin at 11 a.m. (PST). Due to rain in the forecast, both matches will likely take place indoors at the Courthouse Tennis Center (1379 Madison St. NE, Salem, Ore.) rather than outdoors at the WU Tennis Courts.

Entering the weekend, the Bearcats are 0-7 on the season and 0-4 in conference play. WU narrowly missed two victories against last week's oppoennts, as the Bearcats lost to University of Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran University by identical scores of 5-4.

Against Pacific Lutheran, The Bearcats gained victories at #1, #2 and #6 singles, as well as #1 doubles. Denise Poltavski (Sr., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS) led the way with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Caroline Dreher at #1 singles. Mikaila Smith (Fr., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS) triumphed in #2 singles, 6-3, 6-2, against Allison McClure.

Katie Adams (Fr., McLean, VA/American International School), who played #6 singles, held the advantage in both sets against Stephanie Baker, winning 7-5, 6-3. Poltavski and Smith combined to win #1 doubles versus Dreher and Ingrid Ericksen, 8-3.

At Puget Sound, Poltavski continued her successful play at #1 singles, besting Elizabeth Chao, 6-0, 6-1. However, Smith missed her singles match due to illness after teaming up with Poltavski to win #1 doubles 8-5 against the Loggers' team of Chao and Tressa Bild.

Willamette's other two victories came by default as the Loggers had just five players available for the match, giving the Bearcats wins at #2 doubles and #6 singles.

This week's first opponent, Linfield, is tied for the top spot in NWC standings with an 8-2 overall record and a 4-0 conference record.

The Wildcats are coming off of an 8-1 win over Pacific University in which their singles lineup consisted of Ella Riddle (Fr.), Basia Kopecka (Fr.), Marisa Doveri (Fr.), Marisa Kume (So.), Courtney Hammagren (Fr.), and Kelly Watanabe (Sr.) at #1 through #6, respectively.

Linfield's doubles teams this past weekend were Riddle and Mackenzie Fraser (So.) playing #1, Kopecka and Hammagren competing at #2, and Watanabe and Kaila Nip (Sr.) teaming up for #3.

Willamette's opponent for Sunday, Lewis & Clark, is 7-2 overall and 5-0 in the NWC. Back on Feb. 20, the Bearcats were defeated on the road by the Pioneers by a score of 9-0.

In its last match, Lewis & Clark featured a singles lineup of Summer Garrison (Fr.), Aurora Garrison (So.), Kacey Incerpi (Fr.), Glenna Gee-Taylor (Fr.), Christine Eliazo (Fr.), and Natalie Kelly (Fr.).

As for doubles, the Pioneers' #1 team last weekend was made of Incerpi and Eliazo. L&C's #2 team consisted of Lew and Summer Garrison (Fr.), while the #3 team featured Gillian Lowe (Sr.) and Aurora Garrison (Jr./So.).