By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications, (503) 370-6110

TACOMA, Wash. -- Willamette University received singles victories from Robin Pashek (Jr., The Dalles, OR/The Dalles-Wahtonka HS), Sarah Dean (Jr., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) and Alyssa Oberg (Sr., Roseville, CA/Oakmont HS) on Sunday, Feb. 23 against Pacific Lutheran University, but the Lutes swept three closely contested doubles matches on their way to a 6-3 non-conference win over the Bearcats. PLU advanced its record to 3-2, while Willamette fell to 0-4.

Pashek defeated Hannah Jeffries in a tie-breaker at the end of the first set in #2 singles, 7-6 (7-3). In the second set, Pashek built a 5-1 lead, before Jeffries had to retire due to an injury. At #3 singles, Dean won a tight first set against Bayley Gochanour, 6-3, before rolling through the second set, 6-0. In the #5 singles match, Oberg held off Taylor Stokes of PLU in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, 6-2, 4-6, 13-11.

Pacific Lutheran's sweep of doubles for a 3-0 lead featured a tie-breaker in the #1 match, as Jeffries and Sydney Cameron outlasted Pashek and Dean, 8-7 (7-2). The #2 doubles match was nearly as close, with Gochanour and Michelle Batin edging out WU's team of Sylvia Marr (Jr., Grants Pass, OR/Hidden Valley HS) and Siena Ginsburg (Jr., Bend, OR/Summit HS), 8-5. At #3 doubles, PLU's combo of Stokes and Emma Lund defeated Oberg and Paisley Lieske (Fy., Seattle, WA/Vashon Island HS) of Willamette, 8-4.

Batin of PLU kept Ginsburg at bay in the first set at #4 singles, 6-3, and then won the second set for the Lutes, 6-2. Also winning in straight sets for Pacific Lutheran were Cameron at #1 singles against Marr, 6-1, 6-1, and Lauren Kearney at #6 singles versus Lieske, 6-0, 6-2.

Willamette will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 29, when the Bearcats will host College of Idaho. Match time is slated for 9 a.m. (PST).