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

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

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.

The Leopards won all three doubles matches for a 3-0 lead. At #1 doubles, the La Verne team of Laina Matsuda and Bridget Etchegaray defeated Denise Poltavski (Sr., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS) and Mikaila Smith (Fr., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS) of Willamette, 8-1.

La Verne earned straight-set victories in all six singles matches, except at #2 singles, where Smith of Willamette had to retire after the first point of the match. Lauren Torres received the win.

In the #1 singles match, Andrea Madrigal rolled to a 6-1 win in the first set, but had to hold off Poltavski for a slim 7-5 triumph in the second set. At #5 singles, Areli Martinez of ULV edged out Ellen Rumley (Fr., Anchorage, AK/East Anchorage HS) in the first set, 6-4, and then took the second set, 6-1.

Shanelle Trujillo prevailed at #4 singles against Alicia Sohn (So., Tustin, CA/Arnold O. Beckman HS) of Willamette, 6-3, 6-2.

The Bearcats will conclude their Spring Break trip to on Wednesday, March 25 with a match at California Institute of Technology. Match time in Pasadena, Calif., is scheduled for 2 p.m. (PDT).