Whitman, Ranked #22, Downs Willamette, 9-0, in Season Opener for Bearcats

Mikaila Smith (So., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS)
Mikaila Smith (So., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS)

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Whitman College, ranked #22 in NCAA Division III by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, defeated Willamette University, 9-0, in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match on Saturday, Feb. 20 at the Courthouse Tennis Center.

The Missionaries improved to 3-5 on the season, 2-1 in the NWC. Willamette, playing its season opener, fell to 0-1 overall, 0-1 in the NWC.

Whitman lost just four games while sweeping the three doubles matches. At #1 doubles, Mary Hill and Hanna Greenberg, downed Mikaila Smith (So., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS) and Alexis Gjurasic (Fr., Olympia, WA/Capital HS), 8-2.

In the #2 doubles match, Whitman's team of Allie Wallin and Jana Klages-Miller defeated Hannah Andres (Fr., Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) and Elena O'Shea (So./Fr., Arcata, CA/Northcoast Preparatory and Performing Arts Academy) of Willamette, 8-2. Jenna Gilbert and Lori Sheng prevailed at #3 doubles, 8-0.

Hill outlasted Smith at #1 singles, winning 6-2, 6-2. The closest match in singles play was at #3 sigles, where Klages-Miller held off Gjurasic 6-3 in the first set. Klages-Miller took the second set, 6-1.

Willamette will be back in action at the Courthouse Tennis Center on Sunday, Feb. 21 against Pacific Lutheran University. Match time is set for 12 p.m. (PST).