Lewis & Clark, Ranked #28, Wins Non-Conference Match with Bearcats, 7-2

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

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Lewis & Clark College, ranked #28 in NCAA Division III women's tennis by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) defeated Willamette University, 7-2, in a non-conference match on Sunday, Feb. 25 at the L&C Tennis Dome. The Pioneers remained undefeated at 3-0, while the Bearcats dropped to 3-2 on the season.

Willamette's Sarah Dean (Fr., Boise, ID/Timberline HS)  picked up victories at #3 singles and #2 doubles. In her singles match, she won the first set against Natasha Hood, 6-4. Dean led 2-1 in the second set when Hood had to retire from the match. At #2 doubles, Dean and Sylvia Marr (Fr., Grants Pass, OR/Hidden Valley HS) outlasted Hood and Riley Hanks from L&C, 8-5.

L&C held a 2-1 advantage after doubles, as the Pioneers grabbed wins at the #1 and #3 positions. In #1 doubles, Christine Eliazo and Kacey Incerpi downed Mikaila Smith (Sr., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS) and Robin Pashek (Fr., The Dalles, OR/The Dalles-Wahtonka HS), 8-3. At #3 doubles, Adrienne Fox and Glenna Gee-Taylor moved past Siena Ginsburg (Fr., Bend, OR/Summit HS) and Alexis Gjurasic (Jr., Olympia, WA/Capital HS), 8-0.

Dean earned the Bearcats' only win in singles. Smith played a solid first set against Eliazo from L&C at #1 singles before losing the set, 6-3. Eliazo, ranked #50 in NCAA Division III in singles, swept the second set, 6-0. Ginsburg of WU played well in the first set against Riley Hanks at #5 singles, with Hanks taking the set, 6-4. Hanks won the second set, 6-2. Also winning for L&C were Incerpi at #2 singles, Chloe Sermet at #4 singles and Madelyn Landerfeld at #6 singles.

"Overall, I felt pretty good about the match," Willamette Head Coach Bryce Parmelly said. "Lewis & Clark is a tough team and we definitely competed with them at a handful of spots. Sarah Dean and Sylvia Marr played a brilliant doubles pro-set, while Sarah followed it up with a similar effort in singles. We competed hard to conclusion at each spot, which I was really happy about"

Willamette will return to action when they take on Whitworth University in a Northwest Conference match in Salem, Oregon, on Friday, March 2. Match time is currently set for 2 p.m. (PST) at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club.