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

OJAI, CALIF. -- Sabrina Gutierrez (Sr., Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS) and Denise Poltavski (Jr., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS), both from Willamette University, won their first matches at the 114th Annual Ojai Valley Tournament on Thursday, April 24. Gutierrez and Poltavski were entered in the Women's Independent Colleges bracket, which included NCAA Division III and NAIA competitors.

Gutierrez received a bye in the opening round before defeating Allison Moncrief from the University of La Verne (Calif.), 6-3, 6-3, in the Round of 32. She will take on #1-seeded Lauren Stratman from Westmont College (Calif.) in the Round of 16 on Friday, April 25 at 9:30 a.m. (PDT).

Poltavski downed Kelley Klebenow from Chapman University (Calif.) in the Round of 64 by matching scores of 6-2, 6-2. In the Round of 32, Poltavski was defeated by #4-seeded Meagan Zamilpa from Whittier College (Calif.), 6-2, 6-2. For the season, Poltavski achieved a singles record of 12-3.

Gutierrez and Poltavski competed in the Women's Independent Colleges doubles bracket on Thursday with a match against Sarah Kukino and Crystal Lim from Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the Round of 32. Kukino and Lim downed Gutierrez and Poltavksi, 6-3, 6-0.

Overall this spring, Gutierrez and Poltavksi earned a record of 13-2 in singles. Prior to losing to Kukino and Lim, their only defeat was against Katrina Allick and Erin Bell of Whitman College on Feb. 22. In between, the Willamette pair won 11 consecutive matches, including a victory over highly-regarded Courtney Lawless and Madison Webster of Whitman.

The Women's Independent College brackets in singles and doubles are single-elimination competitions. The championship match in singles is set for Sunday, April 27 at 9:30 a.m. (PDT) with the doubles championship match set for Sunday at 2 p.m.