Bearcats Roll Past C.C. of Spokane, 9-0, in Women's Tennis

Sarah Dean (Fr., Boise, ID/Timberline HS)
Sarah Dean (Fr., Boise, ID/Timberline HS)

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University swept all three doubles matches, and then won every singles match in straight sets, as the Bearcats defeated Community Colleges of Spokane, 9-0, in an exhibition women's tennis match on Friday, Feb. 16 at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club. The victory will not be added to Willamette's record because the NCAA does not count results against two-year colleges.

The Sasquatch won 10 games during the three pro-sets in doubles, but didn't take more than four games in a single match. Willamette's top team of Mikaila Smith (Sr., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS) and Robin Pashek (Fr., The Dalles, OR/The Dalles-Wahtonka HS) downed Megan Patrick and Chelsea Li, 8-3.

In the #2 doubles match. Sarah Dean (Fr., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) and Sylvia Marr (Fr., Grants Pass, OR/Hidden Valley HS) earned an 8-3 win for the Bearcats against Hannah Plank and Shelby Walker from CC of Spokane. At #3 doubles, Siena Ginsburg (Fr., Bend, OR/Summit HS) and Alexis Gjurasic (Jr., Olympia, WA/Capital HS) outscored Kellee Bates and Alex O'Dell from Spokane, 8-4.

"We started a little slow today, but once we got the momentum going we didn't look back," Willamette Head Coach Bryce Parmelly said. "Hannah played a really well-rounded match at #6 singles today and Sylvia played extremely assertive tennis when it mattered most. Mikaila, Robin and Sarah all dominated their matches from the very beginning. It was a great day in preparation for Sunday's match against Whitman."

Smith breezed past Patrick at #1 singles, 6-0, 6-0. Dean at #3 singles against Li, and Hannah Andres (Jr., Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) at #6 singles versus Ashley Rotchford, also won for the Bearcats without dropping a game. At #2 singles, Pashek downed Plank, 6-2, 6-1. Marr was victorious at #4 singles against Walker, 6-1, 6-4, while Ginsburg held off Bates in both sets at #5 singles for a 6-4, 6-3 triumph.

The Bearcats will open Northwest Conference play on Sunday, Feb. 18 by hosting Whitman College at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club. Match time is slated for 11 a.m. (PST).