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

MEDFORD, ORE. -- Southern Oregon University downed Willamette University, 7-2, in a non-conference women's tennis match on Wednesday, March 25. Due to rain, the match was moved from Ashland, Ore., to the Southern Oregon Tennis Club in Medford, Ore.

Willamette earned victories at #1 and #2 singles. Shannon Palmer (Fr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) won #1 singles against SOU's Katie Ross, 7-5, 6-3. Alyssa Morrison (Jr., Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS) triumphed at #2 singles, 5-7, 6-1, 6-3, over Charlotte Duren of Southern Oregon.

The Raiders swept the doubles matches, but won close decisions at the #1 and #3 doubles positions. Ross and Rebecca Weicher prevailed at #1 doubles over WU's team of Palmer and Kristen Dedijer-Small (Fr., Dallas, OR/Oaks Christian HS/Chemeketa CC), 8-5. At #3 doubles, Duren and Heidi Chiles of SOU defeated Annika Moffett (Fr., Portland, OR/Lincoln HS) and Emily Bee (Fr., Portland, OR/Lincoln HS), 8-6.

Southern Oregon achieved wins from #3 singles through #6 singles in straight sets. The only match to include a tie-breaker on the afternoon was at #5 singles, where Mallory Byers edged past Moffett in the first set, 7-6 (7-4), before winning the second set 6-1.

SOU upped its record to 4-0 on the season. The Bearcats moved to 4-9 overall. WU will take on Pacific University on Friday, March 27 at the Tualatin Hills Tennis Center in Beaverton, Ore., starting at 1 p.m. (PDT).

March 25, 2009
At Southern Oregon Tennis Club, Medford, Ore.

Singles
#1 - Shannon Palmer (WU) defeated Katie Ross (SOU), 7-5, 6-3
#2 - Alyssa Morrison (WU) defeated Charlotte Duren (SOU), 5-7, 7-1, 6-3
#3 - Heidi Chiles (SOU) defeated Kristen Dedijer-Small (WU), 6-0, 6-3
#4 - Erin Bruni (SOU) defeated Jamie Slonaker (WU), 6-1, 6-4
#5 - Mallory Byers (SOU) defeated Annika Moffett (WU), 7-6 (7-4), 6-1
#6 - Elizabeth Kiger (SOU) defeated Emily Bee (WU), 6-1, 6-1

Doubles
#1 - Ross and Rebecca Weicher (SOU) defeated Palmer and Dedijer-Small (WU), 8-5
#2 - Bruni and Byers (SOU) defeated Morrison and Slonaker (WU), 8-2
#3 - Duren and Chiles (SOU) defeated Moffett and Bee (WU), 8-6

Records:
Southern Oregon University is 4-0 overall. Willamette University is 4-9 overall.