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

SALEM, ORE. -- Denise Poltavski (Sr., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS) of Willamette won #1 singles without losing a game, but Whitworth University won all of the other matches, as the Pirates defeated the Bearcats, 8-1, in Northwest Conference women's tennis action at the Courthouse Tennis Center on Saturday, Feb. 28.

Whitworth improved to 3-2 on the season and to 3-1 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette dropped to 0-5 overall and to 0-2 in the NWC.

Poltavski swept through #1 singles, as she downed Taylor Pena of Whitworth, 6-0, 6-0. Bella Hoyos won for the Pirates at #2 singles, outlasting Mikaila Smith (Fr., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS) of Willamette, 6-4, 6-2.

Jennifer Adams of Whitworth won #3 singles against Alicia Sohn (So., Tustin, CA/Arnold O. Beckman HS), 6-1, 6-3. Annabelle Burns of Whitworth edged out Ellen Rumley (Fr., Anchorage, AK/East Anchorage HS), 7-5, in the first set at #4 singles, before winning 6-0 in the second set.

At #1 doubles, Poltavski and Mikaila Smith of the Bearcats provided a tough battle for Pena and Jennifer Adams, before the Whitworth duo claimed an 8-5 win.

Willamette is scheduled to be back in action on Saturday, March 7 at Pacific Lutheran University. Match time in Parkland, Wash., is slated for 1 p.m. (PST).