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

SALEM, ORE. -- Natalia Agarycheva (Jr., Vancouver, WA/Prairie HS/U. of Northern Colorado) battled her way to victories at #1 singles and #1 doubles, but the Willamette University women's tennis team fell to visiting Linfield College, 6-3, on Saturday, March 13. Willamette dropped to 7-4, all against NWC opponents. Linfield moved to 7-2 on the season, 7-2 in the NWC.

Agarycheva paired with Shannon Palmer (So., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) to get the win in doubles #1 action. They defeated Linfield's #1 doubles team of Abby Olbrich and Sallie Katter, 8-6. Agarycheva topped Olbrich in the #1 singles match, 6-2, 6-1.

Willamette's other win came in #6 singles, where Jamie Slonaker (Jr., Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS) defeated Kirstie Franceschina, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3).

The #3 singles match also included a tie-breaker. Sophie Larson of Linfield won the tie-breaker in the second set to defeat Katie Huber (Fr., St. Peter, MN/St. Peter HS), 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).

The Bearcats will host Pacific University on Saturday, March 20 at 11 a.m. (PDT). Willamette defeated the Boxers 8-1 earlier this season in Forest Grove, Ore.

Saturday, March 13
At Courthouse Tennis Club, Salem, Ore.

Linfield College 6, Willamette University 3

Singles
#1 - Natalia Agarycheva (WU) defeated Abby Olbrich (LIN), 6-2, 6-1
#2 - Sallie Katter (LIN) defeated Shannon Palmer (WU), 6-4, 6-1
#3 - Sophie Larson (LIN) defeated Katie Huber (WU), 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
#4 - Sarah Clock (LIN) defeated Alyssa Morrison (WU), 6-1, 6-2
#5 - Sarah Watanabe (LIN) defeated Fabi Dieguez (WU), 6-2, 6-2
#6 - Jamie Slonaker (WU) defeated Kirstie Franceschina (LIN), 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3)

Doubles
#1 - Agarycheva and Palmer (WU) defeated Olbrich and Katter (LIN), 8-6
#2 - Click and Watanabe (LIN) defeated Morrison and Dieguez (WU), 8-1
#3 - Larson and Franceschina (LIN) defeated Huber and Slonaker (WU), 8-3

Records:
Linfield College is 7-2 overall, 7-2 NWC. Willamette University is 7-4 overall, 7-4 NWC.