Pioneers Remain Undefeated in NWC with 9-0 Win over Bearcats

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

SALEM, ORE. -- The women's tennis team from Lewis & Clark College remained undefeated in the Northwest Conference with a 9-0 victory over Willamette University on Sunday, March 15 at the Courthouse Tennis Center. L&C improved to 7-0 in the NWC. The Pioneers, ranked #36 in the nation in NCAA Division III and ranked #8 in the West Region, moved to 9-2 overall.

Willamette dropped to 0-9 overall and to 0-6 in the NWC. Two of Willamette's losses have been to the Pioneers, who are one of just two undefeated teams in the NWC standings. Whitman College is 6-0 in conference play.

In Sunday's match, the Pioneers gained a close win at #1 doubles, as Christine Eliazo and Kacey Incerpi edged out Denise Poltavski (Sr., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS) and Mikaila Smith (Fr., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS) of Willamette, 8-6.

At #2 doubles, Summer Garrison and Claudia Lew downed Emily Guimont (Jr., El Dorado Hills, CA/Folsom HS) and Alicia Sohn (So., Tustin, CA/Arnold O. Beckman HS), 8-1. The #3 doubles match was won by L&C's team of Aurora Garrison and Wiktoria Plawska.

Summer Garrison downed Smith at #1 singles, 6-4, 6-1. Also winning singles matches for the Pioneers were Aurora Garrison at #2, Plawska at #3, Lew at #4, Eliazo at #5 and Natalie Kelly at #6.

Willamette will take on Schreiner University (Texas) in a non-conference match on Wednesday, March 18 at the WU Tennis Courts. The action is set to get underway at 2 p.m. (PST).