Lewis & Clark, Ranked #34, Downs Bearcats 9-0 in Women's Tennis

Mikaila Smith (Jr., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS)
Mikaila Smith (Jr., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS)

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Lewis & Clark College, ranked #34 in NCAA Division III by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), defeated Willamette University, 9-0, in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match on Sunday, April 8 at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club. The Pioneers improved to 9-3 on the season, including 5-1 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 7-8 overall, 1-5 in the NWC.

A close match was played at #1 singles. The competitors were tied after two sets, with Mikaila Smith (Sr., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS) of Willamette taking the first set, 7-5, and Christine Eliazo of L&C claiming the second set, 6-1. Eliazo prevailed in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, 10-2, to win the match.

Another battle took place at #3 doubles. L&C's team of Chloe Sermet and Riley Hanks outlasted Willamette's Siena Ginsburg (Fr., Bend, OR/Summit HS) and Alexis Gjurasic (Jr., Olympia, WA/Capital HS), 8-6.

"Overall, it was another great effort with some streaks of impressive play," Willamette Head Coach Bryce Parmelly said. "Lewis & Clark is a really tough team and they played hard today. We are improving quickly, but still have a ways to go before we can win against a team of that caliber. Still, I'm happy with the team's effort today."

Lewis & Clark started strong with wins at #1 and #2 doubles. At #1 doubles, Eliazo and Kacey Incerpi downed Smith and Robin Pashek (Fr., The Dalles, OR/The Dalles-Wahtonka HS), 8-2. At #2 dobules, Natalie Kelly and Glenna Gee-Taylor defeated Sarah Dean (Fr., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) and Sylvia Marr (Fr., Grants Pass, OR/Hidden Valley HS), 8-1.

The #1 singles match was the only singles competition to go past two sets. In addition to Eliazo, winners in singles for the Pioneers were Incerpi at #2, Kelly at #3, Sermet at #4, Natasha Hood at #5 and Madelyn Landerfelt at #6. In the #5 singles match, Hood held off Marr 6-3 in the first set, before taking the second set, 6-2.

Willamette will complete the season with NWC matches on Saturday, April 14 and Sunday, April 15. On Saturday, the Bearcats will play at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, starting at 11 a.m. (PDT). On Sunday, Willamette will play at home against Pacific University at 12 p.m.