By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
NEWBERG, Ore. -- George Fox University prevailed in two close doubles matches, and then won two three singles matches with one or more close sets, as the Bruins defeated Willamette University, 9-0, in a non-conference women's tennis match on Saturday, Feb. 23. GFU improved to 1-3 on the season. Willamette, playing its season opener, fell to 0-1.
The overall match began with highly contested doubles matches. At #1 doubles, Jillian Studer and Laney Search of George Fox, outlasted Sarah Dean (So., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) and Robin Pashek (So., The Dalles, OR/The Dalles-Wahtonka HS), 8-6. The #3 doubles match went to Danielle Brown and Alyssa Byde of GFU in a tie-breaker, 8-7 (8-6), over Siena Ginsburg (So., Bend, OR/Summit HS) and Hannah Andres (Sr., Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) of WU.
At #2 doubles, the match was still competitive, but not quite as tight, as Sophia Lawrence and Taylor Morris won for GFU over Alexis Gjurasic (Sr., Olympia, WA/Capital HS) and Sylvia Marr (So., Grants Pass, OR/Hidden Valley HS), 8-3.
"Today was an extremely tough match for us, one that I take full responsibility for while also giving George Fox the credit they deserve," Willamette Head Coach Bryce Parmelly said. "No excuses, we will learn as much as we can from this and get back to work with a new level of intensity."
Lawrence defeated Dean in the first set at #1 doubles for the Bruins, but had to hold on for a 6-4 win in the second set. In #3 singles, Brown edged out Ginsburg in the first set, 7-5, before winning the second set, 6-2. At #4 singles, Byde from GFU won against Marr in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set. Byde lost the first set before rallying for a 5-7, 6-3, 14-12 victory.
Also winning in singles for the Bruins were Search at #2 singles, Morris at #5 singles, and Brown at #6 singles.
Willamette will return to action right away, as the Bearcats are scheduled to play Highline College (Wash.) in an exhibition match on Sunday (Feb. 24). The action is slated to begin at 10 a.m. (PST) at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club.