By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- University of Puget Sound swept through the singles and doubles competition, including a narrow victory at #1 singles, as the Loggers defeated Willamette University, 9-0, in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match on Sunday, Feb. 26 at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club.

Puget Sound evened its record at 4-4 on the season, including 2-3 in the NWC. The Bearcats fell to 0-5 overall, 0-4 in the NWC.

At #1 singles, Lisa Owen of Puget Sound outlasted Mikaila Smith (Jr., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS) of Willamette by winning the first set, 7-5, and by taking the second set, 6-4.

The Bearcats battled the Loggers in close opening sets at #2, #3 and #6 singles, but Puget Sound prevailed in straight sets at each position.

In the #2 singles match, Nicole Bouche downed Alexis Gjurasic (So., Olympia, WA/Capital HS), winning 6-3 in the first set, before claiming the second set, 6-0. At #3 singles, Elizabeth Chao downed Mina Mizutani (Fr., Los Alamitos, CA/Los Alamitos HS), 6-3, 6-1. Tessa Bild of Puget Sound won #6 singles against Allie DiPasquale (So., Seattle, WA/Seattle Academy), 6-4, 6-1.

The closest match in doubles was at the #1 position, where Owen and Bouche downed Smith and Gjurasic, 8-4.

Willamette will return to action on Sunday, March 5 with a Northwest Conference match at Whitworth University. Match time in Spokane, Washington, is schedyuled for 9 a.m. (PST).