By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

PARKLAND, Wash. -- Mikaila Smith (So., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS) of Willamette University won #1 singles in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, but Pacific Lutheran University defeated the Bearcats in the team score, 7-2, in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match on Sunday, April 3. Pacific Lutheran advanced its record to 5-6 overall, 4-4 in the NWC. Willamette dropped to 0-12 on the season, 0-9 in the NWC.

PLU built a 2-1 lead in doubles. In the #1 doubles match, Caroline Dreher and Megan Beyers won for the Lutes against Smith and Alexis Gjurasic (Fr., Olympia, WA/Capital HS), 8-4. At #2 doubles, Emily Bower and Emily Beemsterboer downed Katie Adams (So., McLean, VA/American International School) and Allie DiPasquale (Fr., Seattle, WA/Seattle Academy) of WU, 8-3.

Noemi Cruz-Cruz (So., Galt, CA/Liberty Ranch HS) and Rachel Kong (Fr., Hayward, CA/Castro Valley HS) of Willamette won #3 doubles in a tie-breaker against Lilly Le and Ingrid Ericksen, 9-8 (7-5).

Smith picked up the Bearcats' only win in singles. Cruz-Cruz forced Ericksen of PLU into a tie-breaker in the first set at #6 singles, but Ericksen prevailed in the tie-breaker 9-7 on her way to a 7-6, 6-1 win.

Beyers of PLU held off Gjurasic in the first set at #2 singles, 6-4, and then took the second set, 6-0. Bower defeated Hannah Andres (Fr., Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) of WU, 6-3, in the first set at #3 singles, before winning the second set, 6-0. Other winners for the Lutes were Beemsterboer at #4 singles and Le in the #5 singles match.

Up next for the Bearcats is a match against George Fox University on Saturday, April 9 at the WU Tennis Courts. Action is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. (PDT).