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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University swept the doubles matches and won five of six singles matches to defeat the University of Puget Sound, 8-1, in Northwest Conference action on Friday, Feb. 20 at the Courthouse Tennis Club. The Bearcats improved to 1-3 overall and to 1-2 in the NWC. Puget Sound fell to 0-3 on the season, 0-3 in the NWC.

Alyssa Morrison (Jr., Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS) won #1 singles for the 'Cats, as she defeated Sam Taylor, 6-4, 7-5. UPS picked up its only victory at #2 singles, where Alissa Wolf downed Kristen Dedijer-Small (Fr., Dallas, OR/Oaks Christian HS), 6-3, 6-1.

Two singles matches were won by the Bearcats in tie-breakers played instead of a third set. At #3 singles, Fabi Dieguez (Fr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) edged out Madison Holtz, 4-6, 6-4, 10-4. At #6 singles, Jamie Slonaker (So., Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS) defeated Jessica Gauger, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 10-3.

WU gained an early advantage by winning all three doubles matches. At #1 doubles, Dieguez and Abby Funabiki (Sr., Pullman, WA/Pullman HS/Quinnipiac University) rallied from a 5-4 deficit to defeat Taylor and Holtz, 8-5.

At #2 doubles, Dedijer-Small and Samantha Wong (Jr., Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) moved past Wolf and Ada Yu, 8-5. The #3 doubles match was won by Emily Bee (Fr., Portland, OR/Lincoln HS) and Annika Moffett (Fr., Portland, OR/Lincoln HS), 8-4, over Devin Fields and Ashly Dombrow.

Wong of Willamette also won her singles match to improve to 3-1 on the season. She defeated Fields, 6-1, 6-1, at the #5 position. Funabiki won #4 singles for WU, 6-0, 1-0, after Yu had to end the match due to injury.

The Bearcats will return to action on Thursday, Feb. 26 at Linfield College. Match time in McMinnville, Ore., is set for 12 p.m. (PST).

Friday, Feb. 20, 2009
At Courthouse Tennis Club, Salem, Ore.

Singles
#1 - Alyssa Morrison (WU) defeated Sam Taylor (UPS), 6-4, 7-5
#2 - Alissa Wolf (UPS) defeated Kristen Dedijer-Small (WU), 6-3, 6-1
#3 - Fabi Dieguez (WU) defeated Madison Holtz (UPS,) 4-6, 6-4, 10-4*
#4 - Abby Funabiki (WU) defeated Ada Yu (UPS), 6-0, 1-0, retired
#5 - Samantha Wong (WU) defeated Devin Fields (UPS), 6-1, 6-1
#6 - Jamie Slonaker (WU) defeated Jessica Gauger (UPS), 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 10-3*

Doubles
#1 - Dieguez and Funabiki (WU) defeated Taylor and Holtz (UPS), 8-5
#2 - Dedijer-Small and Wong (WU) defeated Wolf and Yu (UPS), 8-5
#3 - Emily Bee and Annika Moffett (WU) defeated Fields and Ashley Dombrow, 8-4

* Tie-breaker played instead of a third set

Records:
Willamette University is 1-3 overall, 1-2 in the NWC. The University of Puget Sound is 0-3 overall, 0-3 in the NWC.