Bearcats Fall to Pirates, 6-3

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

SPOKANE, WASH. -- The Willamette University women's tennis team lead by one point after doubles play but eventually fell to the host Whitworth Pirates, 6-3, on Saturday, April 10. Whitworth clinched their second straight outright Northwest Conference Championship with the victory.

Natalie Agarycheva (Jr., Vancouver, WA/Univ. of Northern Colo.) and Shannon Palmer (So., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) rallied from a 5-2 deficit at #1 doubles to earn the victory, 9-8 (7-3). Katie Huber (Fr., St. Peter, MN/St. Peter HS) and Emily Bee (So., Portland, OR/Lincoln HS) won at #3 doubles, 8-4.

Agarycheva captured her second victory of the day at #1 singles play. She defeated Rachel Burns, 6-1, 6-1. Agarycheva is the top ranked player in the NWC and now has a season record of 15-2 overall and 13-1 in conference.

Willamette is currently in fourth place in the NWC. Whitworth clinched the first place seed for the playoffs and Linfield has clinched the second seed. If Willamette defeats Whitman tomorrow, Sunday April 11, then the Bearcats will finished tied with the Missionaries for third. If WU loses, the Bearcats will take a fourth place seed into the conference tournament.

Saturday, April 10
At Scotford Tennis Center, Spokane, Wash.

Whitworth University 6, Willamette University 3

Singles
#1 - Natalia Agarycheva (WU) defeated Rachel Burns (WHTW), 6-1, 6-1
#2 - Alli Marshall (WHTW) defeated Shannon Palmer (WU), 6-4, 6-4
#3 - Mya Towne (WHTW) defeated Katie Huber (WU), 6-4, 6-3
#4 - Erica Bosman (WHTW) defeated Fabi Dieguez (WU), 6-1, 6-0
#5 - Katie Staudinger (WHTW) defeated Alyssa Morrison (WU), 6-4, 6-2
#6 - Janell Talbot (WHTW) defeated Jaime Slonaker (WU), 6-0, 6-0

Doubles
#1 - Agarycheva and Palmer (WU) defeated Marshall and Bosman (WHTW), 9-8 (7-3)
#2 - Burns and Staudinger (WHTW) defeated Dieguez and Morrison (WU), 8-1
#3 - Huber and Emily Bee (WU) defeated Towne and Annika Westre (WHTW), 8-4

Records:
Willamette University is 11-7 overall and 10-5 in the NWC. Whitworth is 17-4 overall and 15-1 in the NWC.