By Timothy Walsh, Athletics Communications Writer

NEWBERG, ORE. -- Denise Poltavski (So., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS)and Sabrina Gutierrez (Jr., Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS)swept to victories at #1 and #2 singles, but team depth earned George Fox University a 6-3 victory over Willamette University in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match on Friday, March 1 at the George Fox Campus Courts.

GFU earned its first victory of the season, improving to 1-4 overall, 1-3 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 0-6 overall, 0-5 in the NWC.

George Fox took an early 2-1 advantage, sandwiching wins at #1 and #3 doubles around a Bearcat victory at the #2 spot.

There, Willamette's freshman duo of Rachel Heringer (Salem, OR/South Salem HS)and Stephanie Matsuura(Hilo, HI/Waiakea HS) earned an 8-5 win over Alyssa Emoto and Krista Rey.

The Bruins pulled away during the singles matches, though, despite the best efforts of Poltavski and Gutierrez.

At #1 singles, Poltavski swept to a 6-3, 6-1 victory over GFU's Molly Beaumont, while Gutierrez landed an even more convincing 6-1, 6-0 win over Emoto at the #2 position.

The Bruins' Shaina Inn held off Heringer 6-2, 6-3 at #3 singles, however, and George Fox sewed up the match's winning points when Matsuura fell 6-4, 6-4 to Chantelle Hadeed.

GFU added victories at #5 and #6 singles as well. Rey defeated Emily Guimont (Fr., El Dorado Hills, CA/Folsom HS) 6-1, 6-1 at the #5 spot, while Alissandra Wittrig needed a first set tiebreaker to defeat Mandy Carlson (Fr., Boise, ID/Bishop Kelly HS) 7-5, 6-0.

Willamette returns home to face archrival Linfield College on Saturday, March 2. The match will be played indoors at the Courthouse Tennis Center(1379 Madison St. NE).

Please note that the match's start time has changed to 12:30 p.m.