By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University won four of six singles matches to overcome a 2-1 deficit after doubles play, as the Bearcats surged past College of Idaho, 5-4, in non-conference women's tennis action at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club on Saturday, March 17. The Bearcats upped their record to 5-4 on the season, while the Lady Yotes fell to 0-4.

""Today was our first match of the season where it really came down to the wire," said Willamette Head Coach Bryce Parmelly. "I was extremely impressed with how the team bounced back in singles after going down in doubles. That's not always easy to do. Overall it was a great day for the Bearcats."

College of Idaho won #2 and #3 doubles to take a slim lead before singles got underway.

Willamette's #1 doubles team of Mikaila Smith (Sr., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS) and Robin Pashek (Fr., The Dalles, OR/The Dalles-Wahtonka HS) defeated Hailey Boyd and Sydney Ewing, 8-1. At #2 doubles, Alex Sorte and Natalie Little provided C of I with an 8-3 victory over Sarah Dean (Fr., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) and Sylvia Marr (Fr., Grants Pass, OR/Hidden Valley HS) of Willamette. At #3 doubles, Erin Huffman and Marissa Shirley grabbed a narrow win for the Lady Yotes, as they held off Siena Ginsburg (Fr., Bend, OR/Summit HS) and Alexis Gjurasic (Jr., Olympia, WA/Capital HS), 9-7.

After four of the singles matches were completed, Willamette held a 4-3 advantage in the team scoring. The next match to finish was #4 singles, where Marr of Willamette trailed Melissa O'Berto from College of Idaho 5-4 in the third set, before rallying to force a tie-breaker. Marr won the tie-breaker to take #4 singles, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7-3) and clinch the team victory for the Bearcats."

"Ultimately it came down to Sylvia Marr at number four singles," Parmelly recalled. "I couldn't have been more impressed with her composure under pressure. To go from serving down 5-4 in the third set, to taking the match 7-4 in the final tie-breaker was enormous."

Taylor Little won for C of I at #6 singles in the final match, as she outlasted Hannah Andres (Jr., Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) of Willamette in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, 7-5, 3-6, 10-4.

In addition to Marr's clinching win, the Bearcats also triumphed at #1, #3 and #5 singles. Smith rolled past Sorte at #1 singles, 6-2, 6-1. Dean defeated Boyd at #3 singles, 6-2, 6-2. Ginsburg downed Shirley in the first set at #5 singles, 6-2, and then prevailed in a close second set, 6-4.

"Mikaila Smith had an extremely strong day where she and Robin dominated their doubles spot, after which she followed up with a relentless singles effort," Parmelly said.

College of Idaho won #2 singles, as Huffman defeated Pashek, 6-3, 6-3.

Willamette will return to action with a match at California Lutheran University on Saturday, March 24. Match time in Thousand Oaks, California, is set for 2:30 p.m. (PDT).