By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

NOTE:  This match was later forfeited by UC Santa Cruz which resulted in a 9-0 win for Willamette

SALEM, Ore. -- University of California, Santa Cruz held a slim 2-1 lead after doubles, but won all six singles matches to defeat Willamette University, 8-1, in women's tennis action on Tuesday, March 28 at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club. UC Santa Cruz improved to 2-3 on the season, while Willamette fell to 0-12.

The Banana Slugs won #1 and #2 doubles to build their early lead. In the to doubles match, Vera Smekalina and Claire Stoner downed Mikaila Smith (Jr., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS) and Alexis Gjurasic (So., Olympia, WA/Capital HS), 8-4. At #2 doubles, The UCSC team of Ashley Brudzinski and Zoe Brook moved past Willamette's Mina Mizutani (Fr., Los Alamitos, CA/Los Alamitos HS) and Rachel Kong (So., Hayward, CA/Castro Valley HS), 8-2.

At #3 doubles, the Bearcats earned the win, as Hannah Andres (So., Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) and Noemi Cruz-Cruz (Jr., Galt, CA/Liberty Ranch HS) defeated Danielle Aparicio and Melanie Waechtler, 8-3.

In singles play, the Banana Slugs won each match in straight sets. At #1 singles, Sylvia Brummitt held off Smith in the first set, 6-3, and then won the second set, 6-1. The #2 singles match went to Smekalina, who downed Andres, 6-2, in the first set, before edging out a 6-4 triumph in the second set. Bruczkinski won #3 singles, 6-2, 6-0, over Mizutani.

The closest match in singles was at the #4 position, where Brook battled Gjurasic to claim a 6-4, 6-3 win. Stoner was victorious at #5 singles against Allie DiPasquale, 6-0, 6-1. Aparicio won #6 singles versus Kong by prevailing in a close first set, 6-4, and then grabbing the second set, 6-1.

Willamette's next competition is scheduled for Saturday, April 1 against George Fox University. Match time at the WU Tennis Courts is set for 11 a.m. (PDT).