By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

TACOMA, Wash. -- The Willamette University women's tennis team was defeated by University of Puget Sound, 6-3, in Northwest Conference action on Saturday, April 2. The Bearcats dropped to 0-11 on the season, 0-8 in the NWC. Puget Sound improved to 2-11 overall, 1-6 in the NWC.

Puget Sound led 2-1 after the doubles matches. The Loggers won #1 doubles, as Elizabeth Chao and Nicole Bouche held off Mikaila Smith (So., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS) and Alexis Gjurasic (Fr., Olympia, WA/Capital HS), 8-5. UPS also took #2 doubles, with Tressa Bild and Clarie Fitzgerald defeating Hannah Andres (Fr., Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) and Rachel Kong (Fr., Hayward, CA/Castro Valley HS), 8-2.

At #3 doubles, Katie Adams (So., McLean, VA/American International School) and Allie DiPasquale (Fr., Seattle, WA/Seattle Academy) won for the Bearcats, 8-5, against Kyla Richards and Tamara Runnicles.

Smith of Willamette was victorious at #1 doubles over Bouche, 6-2, 6-2. The Bearcats also picked up a win at #6 singles, where DiPasquale won by default when Runnicles was unable to play.

The closest match of the day was at #5 singles. Richardson won the first set in a tie-breaker, 7-6 (7-4), before Adams took the second set, 6-3. Richardson outscored Adams in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, 10-6.

Other winners for UPS in singles were Chao at #2, Bild at #3 and Fitzgerald at #4.

Willamette will take on Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, Washington, on Sunday, April 3. The match is scheduled to get underway at 10:30 a.m. (PDT).