By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Bellevue College (Wash.) grabbed a close victory at #3 doubles for a 3-0 lead, and went on to defeat Willamette University, 9-0, in a women's tennis exhibition match on the indoor courts at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club on Sunday, March 26.

The match does not change Willamette's win-loss record since the NCAA does not count results against two-year colleges.

Bellevue's #3 doubles team of Kathleen Nolan and Sharon Thomsen outlasted Willamette's duo of Hannah Andres (So., Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) and Noemi Cruz-Cruz (Jr., Galt, CA/Liberty Ranch HS), 9-7.

A bit earlier, Moriah Austin and Marissa Kirk combined to defeat Mikaila Smith (Jr., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS) and Alexis Gjurasic (So., Olympia, WA/Capital HS) of WU at #1 doubles,  8-4. The Bulldogs also won #2 doubles, with Candice Canley and Ha Nguyen downing Mina Mizutani (Fr., Los Alamitos, CA/Los Alamitos HS) and Rachel Kong (So., Hayward, CA/Castro Valley HS), 8-3.

The #2 singles match between Kirk of Bellevue and Andres of Willamette was decided by a super tie-breaker that was played instead of a third set. Andres won the first set in a tie-breaker, 7-6 (8-6), before Kirk took the second set, 6-2. Kirk achieved a 10-2 win in the super tie-breaker.

At #1 singles, Austin defeated Smith, 6-1, 6-0. Nolan held off Mizutani in the second set to win #3 singles, 6-1, 6-4. At #4 singles, Canley moved past Allie DiPasquale (So., Seattle, WA/Seattle Academy), 6-3, 6-2. The #5 singles match went to Thomsen with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Katie Adams (Jr., McLean, VA/American International School). Nguyen won #6 singles against Alyssa Oberg (Fr., Roseville, CA/Oakmont HS), 6-2, 6-1.

Willamette will return to NCAA Division III action on Tuesday, March 298, when the Bearcats host University of California, Santa Cruz at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club. Match time is scheduled for 10 a.m. (PDT).