McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- Linfield College swept the doubles matches, then won five of six singles matches, as the Wildcats defeated Willamette University, 8-1, on Sunday, Feb. 17 at the Linfield Tennis Center. The Wildcats evened their overall record at 2-2, while going to 2-0 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette moved to 0-3 overall, 0-2 in the NWC.
WU's only win was recorded by Jamie Slonaker (Fr., Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS) at #6 singles. She edged past Sarah Click with a 10-8 win in a super tie-breaker in place of a third set. Click won the opening set 7-5, but Slonaker rallied for a 6-3 win in the second set.
Another tightly contested match was played at #5 singles. Molly Nelson of Linfield prevailed over Abby Funabiki (Jr., Pullman, WA/Pullman HS), winning in a super tie-breaker, 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (7-5), 10-6.
Kasey Kuenzli and Sallie Katter of Linfield won the top doubles match. They defeated Willamette's Alaine Anderson (Sr., Santa Ana, CA/Foothills HS) and Alyssa Morrison (So., Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS) , 8-1. Kuenzli also was victorious at #1 singles, as she downed Tiffany Kam (Sr., Pearl City, HI/Punahou School), 6-0, 6-1.
The Bearcats return to action on Saturday, Feb. 23, when they host Whitman College. Match time at the Courthouse Tennis Center in Salem, Ore., is set for 4 p.m. (PST).
Singles
#1 - Kasey Kuenzli (LC) defeated Tiffany Kam (WU), 6-0, 6-1
#2 - Kelli Sides (LC) defeated Alaine Anderson (WU), 6-2, 6-3
#3 - Sallie Katter (LC) defeated Alyssa Morrison (WU), 6-4, 6-2
#4 - Sophie Larson (LC) defeated Emily Elliott (WU), 6-4, 7-5
#5 - Molly Nelson (LC) defeated Abby Funabiki (WU), 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (7-5), 10-6*
#6 - Jamie Slonaker (WU) defeated Sarah Click (LC), 5-7, 6-3, 10-8*
Doubles
#1 - Kuenzli and Katter (LC) defeated Anderson and Morrison (WU), 8-1
#2 - Sides and Nelson (LC) defeated Kam and Funabiki (WU), 8-5
#3 - Larson and Sarah Watanabe (LC) defeated Elliott and Slonaker (WU), 8-2
* Tie-breaker played instead of third set
Records: Willamette is 0-3 overall, 0-2 in the NWC; Linfield is 2-2 overall, 2-0 in the NWC.
BOX SCORE
Linfield College 8, Willamette University 1
