Willamette Drop #1 Doubles in Tie-Breaker, as Colby Defeats Bearcats

Hannah Andres (Sr., Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS)
Hannah Andres (Sr., Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS)

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

CLAREMONT, Calif. -- Colby College (Maine) won #1 doubles in a tie-breaker to start the Mules on their way to a 9-0 victory over Willamette University in a women's tennis match on Thursday, March 28 on the campus of Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.). The win improved Colby's record to 3-3, while Willamette slipped to 3-5.

The match at #1 doubles went to Gabriela Venditti and Callie Nesbitt of Colby, who defeated Sarah Dean (So., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) and Robin Pashek (So., The Dalles, OR/The Dalles-Wahtonka HS) of Willamette, 8-7 (7-5). The hard-fought win gave Colby a 3-0 lead in the team match.

Winning #2 doubles for the Mules were Carly Levitz and Lydia Venditti against Sylvia Marr (So., Grants Pass, OR/Hidden Valley HS) and Alexis Gjurasic (Sr., Olympia, WA/Capital HS), 8-1.  At #3 doubles, Katharine Dougherty and Lindsey Hernandez from Colby downed Siena Ginsburg (So., Bend, OR/Summit HS) and Hannah Andres (Sr., Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS).

Colby prevailed in all six singles matches in straight sets. The biggest battle took place at #6 singles, where Emilia Callery edged out Andres in the first set in a tie-breaker 7-6 (7-2) and then held off Andres in the second set, 6-3. Also winning singles matches for Colby were Levitz at #1, Lydia Venditti at #2, Gabriela Venditti at #3, Nesbitt at #4 and Dougherty at #5.

"Obviously this was a tough match against a very strong team," Willamette Head Coach Bryce Parmelly said. "Hannah had a close match and fought well, while we almost took the top doubles. Back to work we go."

The Bearcats will return to action on Saturday, April 6 at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. Match time is slated for 9:30 a.m.