By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

TACOMA, Wash. -- University of Puget Sound won all four of the singles matches that went to a third set, as the Loggers downed Willamette University, 7-2, in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match on Saturday, Feb. 10. Puget Sound evened its record at 3-3, while improving to 2-1 in the NWC. Willamette slipped to 3-4 overall, 0-3 in the NWC. The win for the Loggers avenged a 7-2 non-conference loss to the Bearcats on Feb. 4 in Salem, Oregon.

Every singles match was tied after two sets except for the #4 and #5 positions. The #4 match was decided in straight sets, but was yet another close match. Barclay Fagg of Puget Sound won #4 singles over Sylvia Marr (Fr., Grants Pass, OR/Hidden Valley HS) of WU, 6-3, 6-4. At #5 singles, Siena Ginsburg (Fr., Bend, OR/Summit HS) of Willamette breezed through the first set, 6-1, before needing a tie-breaker in the second set to defeat Tresa Bild, 7-6 (7-4).

The four singles matches won by the Loggers in three sets were at #1, #2, #3 and #6. In the top singles match, Lisa Owen rallied past Mikaila Smith (Sr., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS) of Willamette, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1. At #2 singles, Nicole Bouche of Puget Sound held off Robin Pashek (Fr., The Dalles, OR/The Dalles-Wahtonka HS), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1. The #3 singles match was won by Bridget Myers for the Loggers, as she cliamed a hard fought 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 triumph over Sarah Dean (Fr., Boise, ID/Timberline HS). At #6 singles, Claire Fitzgerald won the first and third sets in a 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 victory over Hannah Andres (Jr., Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS).

"Today was one of the closest matches we've had this year," Willamette Head Coach Bryce Parmelly said. "Although it ended up being a 7-2 loss, four of the six singles matches we lost were in three sets. After the match, the girls held their heads up as we discussed all that we learned from the day. It's not always easy to stay committed to the learning process, especially after a match like today. I continue to be really proud of this group."

Puget Sound was victorious in two of the three doubles matches to take a 2-1 lead. All three matches were competitive. At #1 doubles, Owen and Bouche of Puget Sound outscored Smith and Pashek of Willamette, 8-4. The Loggers also won at #2 doubles, as Myers and Bild held off Dean and Marr, 8-6. The Bearcats' team at #3 doubles, Ginsburg and Alexis Gjurasic (Jr., Olympia, WA/Capital HS), gained a slight edge over Fagg and Fitzgerald for an 8-6 win.

Willamett will take on Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, on Sunday, March 11. Match time is set for 10:30 a.m. (PDT).