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

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

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.).

Smith went 2-0 at #2 singles and was 1-1 at #1 doubles during the week, with her only loss in a tie-breaker in doubles.

Against Schreiner, she defeated Alexandra Wheeler in a close match in singles that was decided by super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, 7-5, 4-6, 10-3. In doubles, Smith and Denise Poltavski (Sr., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS) lost to Schreiner's Leanna Haynes and Camila Anguiano, 9-8 (7-4). Schreiner won the overall team match, 7-2.

In Willamette's 6-3 victory versus Occidental -- the Bearcats' first win of the season -- Smith breezed past Amber Gadsden in singles, 6-0, 6-0. Smith and Poltavski downed Gadsden and Sara Charney 8-2 in doubles.

For the season, Smith is 7-3 in singles during dual matches, including 6-2 at #2 singles. She is 5-5 at #1 doubles.

The Bearcats will play at University of La Verne on Tuesday, March 24 at 2 p.m. (PDT), before completing their Spring Break trip at California Institute of Technology on Wednesday, March 25. Action in the match against Caltech will begin at 2 p.m.