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

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's tennis team gained control early with a trio of wins in doubles, and then added four wins in singles, as the Bearcats defeated Pacific University, 7-2, in Northwest Conference action on Saturday, March 15 at the WU Tennis Courts.

It was Willamette's third consecutive win, as the Bearcats improved to 4-4 on the season. WU is 2-4 in the NWC. Pacific ended the day at 1-7 overall, 0-6 in the NWC.

The success for the Bearcats in doubles started with an 8-3 win for Sabrina Gutierrez (Sr., Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS) and Denise Poltavski (Jr., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS) at the #1 position. They defeated Kaitlyn Lomartire and Francesca Battaglia of Pacific, 8-3.

At #2 doubles, the Willamette team of Nebraska Lucas (Fr., Portland, OR/Cleveland HS) and Emily Guimont (Jr., El Dorado Hills, CA/Folsom HS) outscored Carlee Rhodaback and Kelsey Lack, 8-5. In #3 doubles, Alicia Sohn (Fr., Tustin, CA/Arnold O. Beckman HS) and Taylor Coggeshall (Fr., Sacramento, CA/Rio Americano HS) of WU held off Danielle Wicks and Kelly Flores, 8-6.

WU needed just two singles wins to secure the team victory, but the Bearcats took wins in four singles matches to pull away. Even so, Pacific put up a good battle in three of the four matches won by the Bearcats.

Gutierrez prevented Lomartire from rallying at #1 singles by winning a tie-breaker in the second set for a 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) victory. One position down the lineup at #2 singles, Poltavski won the first set, 6-3, and Battaglia took the second set, 6-4. Poltavski won the match with a 10-4 triumph in a super tie-breaker played to break the deadlock.

Olina Cavedoni (Fr., Kamuela, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) also prevailed in a close match for the Bearcats. She fended off Lack for a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) win. Sohn provided the remaining win WU as she downed Wicks, 6-1, 6-0.

Pacific's victories were earned by Rhodaback at #3 singles and by Danielle Hunter at #5 singles. Rhodaback defeated Lucas, 6-2, 6-1, while Hunter slipped by Guimont, 6-4, 6-4.

Up next for the Bearcats is an exhibition match on Thursday, March 20 against the Community College of Spokane. The teams will begin with the doubles competition at 3 p.m. (PDT), followed by the singles matches.