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

SALEM, ORE. -- Portland State University defeated Willamette University, 9-0, in women's tennis on Sunday, Feb. 13 at the Courthouse Tennis Club. The Vikings, who compete in NCAA Division I, improved to 2-5 on the season. Willamette, which competes in NCAA Division III, fell to 1-1 overall.

With Willamette playing at home, the match was scored using the Division III 9-point team scoring system in which each singles match and each doubles match is worth one point in the team standings. Division I uses a 7-point system in which each singles match is worth one point and one point is awarded to the team that wins two or all three doubles matches.

PSU took a 3-0 lead by sweeping the doubles matches, but the Vikings received solid battles from the Bearcats at the #1 and #3 doubles positions.

In #1 doubles, PSU's team of Anya Dalkin and Yuki Sugiyama downed Natalia Agarycheva (Sr., Vancouver, WA/Prairie HS/U. of Northern Colorado) and Shannon Palmer (Jr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) of Willamette, 8-4. At #3 doubles, Nayanatara Vadali and Emily McClaran of PSU held off WU's team of Fabi Dieguez (Jr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS/Oregon State Univ.) and Sabrina Gutierrez (Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS), 8-6.

Gutierrez gave Portland State its toughest competition in singles, as she split the first two sets with Vadali at #5. Gutierrez won the first set, 7-5, and Vadali took the second set, also 7-5. Vadali earned the victory by winning a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, 10-5.

The #1 singles match was played between Agarycheva of Willamette and Sugiyama for the Vikings. Sugiyama covered the court well and was strong with her groundstrokes to offset solid play by Agarycheva in claiming a 6-2, 6-2 win.

Willamette will host Whitworth University on Saturday, Feb. 19 in a Northwest Conference match at the Courthouse Tennis Club. Match time is set for 9 a.m. (PST).