By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- The Linfield College women's tennis team, ranked #24 in the NCAA Division III National Poll released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), downed Willamette University, 9-0, on Saturday, March 5 at the Linfield Tennis Center, in the Northwest Conference opener for both teams. Linfield improved to 5-2 overall, 1-0 in the NWC. Willamette moved to 0-7 on the season, 0-1 in the NWC.

In doubles, Willamette's top team of Sarah Dean (Jr., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) and Siena Ginsburg (Jr., Bend, OR/Summit HS) battled with Linfield's team of Riley Clayeux and Michelle Uyeda in the #1 match, but Clayeuz and Uyeda earned an 8-3 win. At #2 doubles, Allena Wong and Lexie Matsunaga of Linfield defeated Sylvia Marr (Jr., Grants Pass, OR/Hidden Valley HS) and Alyssa Oberg (Sr., Roseville, CA/Oakmont HS), 8-2. In the #3 doubles match, Haley Fujimori and Maggie Fiocchi of the Wildcats downed Paisley Lieske (Fy., Seattle, WA/Vashon Island HS) and Rebecca Griffith (Fy., Fort Collins, CO/Rocky Mountain HS), 8-0.

Linfield's Tessa Kern, who is ranked #34 in the nation in singles, moved past Dean, 6-2, 6-2, in the #1 singles match. Clayeux prevailed at #2 singles by matching Kern's scores with a result of 6-2, 6-2 against Ginsburg. Also winning singles matches for the Wildcats were Matsunaga at #3, Wong at #4, Fujimori at #5, and Fioccchi at #6.

Willamette will play at George Fox University in Northwest Conference action on Sunday, March 8. Match time is scheduled for 11 a.m. (PDT).