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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University senior tennis player Natalia Agarycheva (Vancouver, WA/Prairie HS/U. of Northern Colorado) has been named Northwest Conference Women's Tennis Student-Athlete of the Week for her efforts against Whitworth University on Feb. 19 and Whitman College on Feb. 20. Agarycheva won both of her singles matches and earned a pair of victories in doubles.

Agarycheva's matches were at #1 singles and #1 doubles. Against Whitworth, she won her singles match with Rachel Burns, 6-1, 6-1. The next day she edged out Alyssa Roberg of Whitman, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.

In doubles, Agarycheva teamed up with Shannon Palmer (Jr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) for the Bearcats. They outscored Burns and Alli Marshall of Whitworth, 8-6, and defeated Roberg and Elise Otto of Whitman, 8-2.

Willamette lost to defending NWC champion Whitworth, 6-3. Whitman edged past the Bearcats, 5-4.

So far this season Agarycheva is 3-1 in both singles and doubles. Her only losses occurred against NCAA Division I opponent Portland State. She is 3-0 in singles and 3-0 in doubles in the NWC.

Last year, Agarycheva was selected as the NWC Women's Tennis Player of the Year. She achieved a 20-4 overall record in singles during the 2010 spring season, including 14-1 against NWC opponents in the regular season.

She finished the year ranked #5 in the West Region and #37 in NCAA Division III in singles. She became the first Willamette women's tennis player to compete at the NCAA Division III National Championships. Agarycheva and Palmer were ranked #7 in the West Region in doubles.

Agarycheva began the current spring season ranked #9 in the West Region. This past fall, she won the singles championship at the USTA/ITA Small College Northwest Regional and competed at the USTA/ITA Small College National Championships.

Willamette's next action is set for Friday, Feb. 25 at Lewis & Clark College. Match time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The Bearcats will host Pacific Lutheran University on Saturday, Feb. 26 at the Courthouse Tennis Club (1379 Madison St. NE), starting at 12:15 p.m.