By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University women's tennis players Alexa de Crinis (Fy., Makawao, HI/Seabury Hall School) and Ruby Thompson (Sr., Bay City, OR/Tillamook HS) picked up a win at #2 doubles, and Paisley Lieske (Sr., Seattle, WA/Vashon Island HS) earned a victory at #6 singles, but College of Idaho won the match, 7-2, at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club on Saturday, Feb. 25. The Yotes improved to 4-5 on the season, while the Bearcats fell to 0-3.

The Bearcats compete in NCAA Division III and the Northwest Conference. The Yotes are members of the NAIA and the Cascade Collegiate Conference.

College of Idaho held a 2-1 advantage after the doubles matches. At #1 doubles, Leiana Almaraz and Lauren Kreutzer from C of I downed Richelle Suzuki (So., Mililani, HI/Mililani HS) and Anika Groener (So., Bend, OR/Summit HS) of WU, 8-4. In the #2 match, Willamette's pairing of de Crinis and Thompson outscored Nicole Tran and Anna Willcuts, 8-5. At #3 doubles, Brooke McNeel and Summer Townsend were victorious for the College of Idaho, 8-1.

Lieske added Willamette's second win at #6 singles, as she defeated Katie Carlock from C of I, 6-3, 6-2. The Yotes won the other singles matches in straight sets, but the results at the #3, #4, and #5 positions each included one close set.

The #3 singles match, Tran moved past Groener with a 6-0 win in the first set before edging out a 6-4 win in the second set. At #4 singles, Morgan Leavitt from C of I defeated Thompson by a slim 6-4 margin in the first set and then won the second set, 6-1. Willcuts triumphed at #6 singles against Turner, winning by a 6-1 margin in the first set and then holding off Turner 7-5 in the second set.

Kreutzer won #1 singles for the College of Idaho. Almaraz tacked on a win for the Yotes at #2 singles.

Willamette will play an exhibition match against Highline College (Wash.) on Sunday, Feb. 26 at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club. The match is set to get underway at 11 a.m. (PST).