By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University's top doubles team of Sarah Dean (Jr., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) and Robin Pashek (Jr., The Dalles, OR/The Dalles-Wahtonka HS) combined for a strong win at #1 doubles, but College of Idaho won the remaining singles matches and all three doubles matches to defeat the Bearcats, 8-1, at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club on Saturday, Feb. 29. The Coyotes, who compete in the NAIA and the Cascade Collegiate Conference, improved to 1-5 on the season. Willamette, a member of NCAA Division III and the Northwest Conference, fell to 0-5.

Dean and Pashek won the #1 doubles match by defeating Alex Sorte and Natalie Little, 8-1. At #2 doubles, Leiana Almaraz and Lauren Kreutzer from C of I outscored Sylvia Marr (Jr., Grants Pass, OR/Hidden Valley HS) and Siena Ginsburg (Jr., Bend, OR/Summit HS) of Willamette, 8-5. At #3 doubles, Marissa Shirley and Sydney Ewing won for the Coyotes, 8-0, against Alyssa Oberg (Sr., Roseville, CA/Oakmont HS) and Paisley Lieske (Fy., Seattle, WA/Vashon Island HS).

Three of the wins for the Coyotes in singles were in very competitive matches. The #1 singles match was won by Kreutzer, who held off Dean in back-to-back sets for a 6-3, 6-4 triumph. In #2 singles, Sorte needed a tie-breaker to win the first set, and then edged out Pashek in the second set, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4. At #4 singles, Little downed Ginsburg, 6-3, 6-3. Other winners in singles were Almaraz at #3, Shirley at #5 and Ewing at #6.

Willamette will take on Treasure Valley Community College on Sunday, March 1 in an exhibition match at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club. The match, which will start at 8 a.m. (PST), will be held concurrently with the Willamette men's tennis match against Treasure Valley.