By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Pacific Lutheran University won all six singles matches, as the Lutes defeated Willamette University, 8-1, in Northwest Conference women's tennis action at the Courthouse Tennis Center on Sunday, Feb. 21. PLU improved to 2-1, including 2-0 in the NWC. Willamette dropped to 0-2 overall, 0-2 in the NWC.

Willamette won #1 doubles, but Pacific Lutheran held a 2-1 lead entering singles play. In the #1 doubles match, Mikaila Smith (So., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS) and Alexis Gjurasic (Fr., Olympia, WA/Capital HS) of Willamette outlasted Caroline Dreher and Samantha Lund of PLU, 8-6.

At #2 doubles, PLU's team of Megan Beyers and Ingrid Ericksen rallied past Hannah Andres (Fr., Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) and Elena O'Shea (So./Fr., Arcata, CA/Northcoast Preparatory and Performing Arts Academy), 8-5. In #3 doubles, Emily Bower and Emily Beemsterboer of the Lutes won 8-2 over Willamette's duo of Katie Adams (So., McLean, VA/American International School) and Allie DiPasquale (Fr., Seattle, WA/Seattle Academy).

The #1 singles match, played between Dreher of PLU and Smith of Willamette, was the last battle to end. Dreher took the first set 6-2, and then won the match by hold off Smith 7-5 in the second set.

Willamette will take on Whitworth University in another Northwest Conference match on Sunday, Feb. 28 in Spokane, Washington. Match time is slated for 10 a.m. (PST).