By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Mikaila Smith (Sr., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS) of Willamette University picked up a close victory at #1 singles, but Whitworth University won all of remaining matches, including a pair of tight results at #1 and #3 doubles, as the Pirates downed the Bearcats, 8-1, in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match on Friday, March 2. The win by Whitworth at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club improved the Pirates to 2-3 on the season, 1-0 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 3-3 overall, 0-2 in the NWC.

Smith prevailed in two well-played sets at #1 singles, edging out Erica Lee of Whitworth in the first set, 6-3, before grabbing the second set in a tie-breaker, 7-6 (7-4). Smith put up another battle at #1 doubles, where she combined with teammate Robin Pashek (Fr., The Dalles, OR/The Dalles-Wahtonka HS) against Lee and Emma Jo Wiley of Whitworth. Lee and Wiley won the pro-set, 8-6. The Pirates also earned an 8-6 triumph at #3 doubles, as Jennifer Adams and Katie Lacayo outscored Willamette's team of Siena Ginsburg (Fr., Bend, OR/Summit HS) and Alexis Gjurasic (Jr., Olympia, WA/Capital HS).

In the #2 doubles match, Whitworth's team of Marissa Kirk and Avery Liening defeated Sarah Dean (Fr., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) and Sylvia Marr (Fr., Grants Pass, OR/Hidden Valley HS), 8-2.

Pashek of Willamette provided Wiley a tough challenge in the first set at #2 singles, with Wiley claiming a 6-4 win. Wiley took the second set, 6-1. At #3 singles, Adams won for the Pirates against Dean, 6-3, 6-3. The #4 singles match was won by Liening of Whitworth, 6-1, 6-1, over Marr.

Emily Sandquist held off Willamette's Hannah Andres (Jr., Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) in the first set at #5 singles, 6-3, and then Sandquist won the second set, 6-0. The #6 singles match went to Lacayo for the Pirates, as she downed Rachel Kong (Jr., Hayward, CA/Castro Valley HS) of Willamette, 6-2, 6-2.

"It was a tough match today," Willamette Head Coach Bryce Parmelly said. "Whitworth competed and played well. Mikaila had a big win at the top spot, which was fun to see, especially as she continues to explore new levels of play. We did compete really well to the very end. I am really proud of my team for that."

The Bearcats will play at the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, March 10 in Tacoma, Washington. The NWC match will begin at 12 p.m. (PST). Willamette defeated the Loggers, 7-2, in a non-conference match on Feb. 4 in Salem.