By Sara Brooks, Assistant Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6219

PORTLAND, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's tennis team captured a 5-4 victory over Lewis & Clark College on Feb. 28, 2010 at the L&C Tennis Dome. The Bearcats trailed 2-1 after doubles play, but captured four of six singles matches to defeat the Pioneers. Natalia Agarycheva (Jr., Vancouver, WA/Prairie HS/U. of Northern Colorado) led Willamette by winning #1 singles over Amalia Nilsson, 6-3, 7-5.

The Bearcats moved to 6-1 overall, 6-1 in the Northwest Conference. Lewis & Clark, which had not lost a match before facing Willamette, dropped to 4-1 overall, 4-1 in the NWC.

Willamette claimed its lone doubles victory at the #1 position. Agarycheva and Shannon Palmer (So., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) defeated Nilsson and Whitney DeBree, 8-4.

At #4 singles, Alyssa Morrison (Sr., Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS) of WU defeated Isabella Borris of L&C. Morrison claimed the victory with scores of 6-7 (5-7), 6-2 and 6-2.

Fabi Dieguez (Jr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS/Oregon State Univ.) earned a victory for the Bearcats at #5 singles. Dieguez defeated Jill Coleman, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

In Willamette's final singles victory, Jamie Slonaker (Jr., Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS) captured a close win over Maggie Peach at the #6 position, 5-7, 6-4 and 6-4. Slonaker's ability to rally after losing the first set allowed Willamette to claim the final team point after the match was tied 4-4.

Lewis & Clark picked up wins at #2 and #3 doubles and #2 and #3 singles. Lisa Harunaga's win over Palmer of Willamette was one of four singles matches that went three sets. Harunaga won 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The Bearcats will host Whitworth University on Friday, March 5. Action is set to begin at 2:30 p.m. (PST) at the Willamette Tennis Courts or at 5:30 p.m. at the Courthouse Tennis Club if the match moves indoors. Willamette will host Whitman College on Saturday, March 6. Play will begin at 11 a.m. at the WU Tennis Courts if weather permits or at 11:30 a.m. indoors at the Courthouse Tennis Club

Sunday, Feb. 28
At L&C Tennis Dome, Portland, Ore.

Willamette University 5, Lewis & Clark College 4

Singles
#1 - Natalia Agarycheva (WU) defeated Amalia Nilsson (LC), 6-3, 7-5
#2 - Lisa Harunaga (LC) defeated Shannon Palmer (WU), 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
#3 - Whitney DeBree (LC) defeated Katie Thuber (WU), 6-3, 6-4
#4 - Alyssa Morrison (WU) defeated Isabella Borris (LC), 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-2
#5 - Fabi Dieguez (WU) defeated Jill Coleman (LC), 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
#6 - Jaime Slonaker (WU) defeated Maggie Peach (LC), 5-7, 6-4, 6-4

Doubles
#1 - Agarycheva and Palmer (WU) defeated Nilsson and DeBree (LC), 8-4
#2 - Harunaga and Borris (LC) defeated Dieguez and Morrison (WU), 8-2
#3 - Coleman and Peach (LC) defeated Slonaker and Thurber (WU), 8-4

Records:
Willamette University is 6-1 overall, 6-1 NWC. Lewis & Clark College is 4-1 overall, 4-1 NWC.