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

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. -- The Willamette University women's tennis team completed its spring break trip to California with a 6-3 victory over Occidental College on Saturday, March 27. The win moved the Bearcats to 9-6 on the season, while the Tigers fell to 3-10.

Natalia Agarycheva (Jr., Vancouver, WA/Prairie HS/U. of Northern Colorado) earned a win in #1 singles play over Krishnaveni Subbiah, 6-3, 6-4. Agarycheva was ranked #7 entering the match and is now 12-2 on the season.

Agarycheva and Shannon Palmer (So., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) were successful in #1 doubles action, defeating Subbiah and Marissa Cassman, 8-6. Agarycheva and Palmer were ranked #4 in the West Region entering the match.

Palmer also earned a victory in #2 singles play, defeating Cassman, 6-2, 5-7, 6-3. Fabi Dieguez (So, Salem, OR/Oregon State University) came from behind to defeat Jessica Go, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in #4 singles play.

Willamette's other singles victory came from Jamie Slonaker (Jr., Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS). Slonaker was victorious over Isabelle Ying, 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (10-8) in #6 singles action.

Slonaker teamed up with Emily Bee (So., Portland, OR/Lincoln HS) to earn WU's final victory of the day against Frances Hutton and Washtien, 8-6, in the doubles #3 match.

Willamette's next match is set for Wednesday, March 31, when the Bearcats will host Lewis & Clark College. The action is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. (PDT) at the Willamette University Tennis Courts.

Saturday, March 27
At McKinnon Tennis Center, Los Angeles, Calif.

Willamette University 6, Occidental College 3

Singles
#1 - Natalia Agarycheva (WU) defeated Krishnaveni Subbiah (OC), 6-3, 6-4
#2 - Shannon Palmer (WU) defeated Marissa Cassman (CU), 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
#3 -Katrina Gould (CU) defeated Katie Huber (WU), 6-1, 6-3
#4 - Fabi Dieguez (WU) defeated Jessica Go (CU), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
#5 - Frances Hutton (CU) defeated Alyssa Morrison (WU), 6-4, 6-0
#6 - Jamie Slonaker (WU) defeated Isabelle Ying (CU), 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (10-8)*

Doubles
#1 - Agarycheva and Palmer (WU) defeated Subbiah and Cassman (CLU), 8-6
#2 - Go and Gould (CU) defeated Dieguez and Morrison (WU), 8-6
#3 - Slonaker and Bee (WU) defeated Hutton and Washtien (CU), 8-6

* Tie-breaker played instead of a third set

Records:
Willamette University is 9-6 overall. Occidental is now 3-10.