Bruins Sweep Doubles in 7-2 Win over Bearcats in Women's Tennis

Sarah Dean (So., Boise, ID/Timberline HS)
Sarah Dean (So., Boise, ID/Timberline HS)

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Wins in all three doubles matches gave George Fox University a 3-0 lead and the Bruins went on to defeat Willamette University, 7-2, in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match on Saturday, April 13 at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club. The win improved GFU to 6-13 overall, 2-4 in the NWC. Willamette slipped to 3-8 on the season, 1-4 in the NWC.

Willamette's victories against the Bruins were earned by Sarah Dean (So., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) at #1 singles and Siena Ginsburg (So., Bend, OR/Summit HS) at #3 singles.

"We made definite improvements from the last time we played them, Willamette Head Coach Bryce Parmelly said. "Losing all three doubles is what really hurt us. Highlights include Sarah's dominant win over a player she barely beat last year, and Siena's brilliant singles match. Everyone competed hard. We need to simply start better and stop having to play catch-up"

Two of GFU's wins in doubles were earned in close matches. At #1 doubles, Sophia Lawrence and Laney Search of George Fox edged out WU's team of Dean and Robin Pashek (So., The Dalles, OR/The Dalles-Wahtonka HS), 8-6. In the #3 doubles match, Danielle Brown and Alyssa Byde of GFU outscored Ginsburg and Hannah Andres (Sr., Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) of the Bearcats, 8-5.

The #2 doubles match also went to the Bruins, as Jillian Studer and Taylor Morris defeted Sylvia Marr (So., Grants Pass, OR/Hidden Valley HS) and Alexis Gjurasic (Sr., Olympia, WA/Capital HS), 8-3.

Dean easily won #1 singles for the Bearcats, as she breezed past Studer, 6-0, 6-0. Ginsburg won a tighter match for WU at #3 singles, holding off Morris in both sets for a 6-3, 6-4 triumph.

Search of GFU downed Marr at #4 singles with another 6-3, 6-4 result. Other singles winners for the Bruins were Lawrence at #2, Brown at #5 and Byde at #6. Byde defeated Alyssa Oberg (Jr., Roseville, CA/Oakmont HS) in the #6 match, 6-0, 6-4, after receiving a strong battle from Oberg in the second set.

The Bearcats will play at Pacific University on Sunday, April 14. Match time in Forest Grove, Oregon, is scheduled for 11 a.m. (PDT).

Sarah Dean (So., Boise, ID/Timberline HS)


Big Moment of the Match for Willamette

Sarah Dean played extremely well at #1 singles, as she easily
moved past Jillian Studer, 6-0, 6-0. Dean and Robin Pashek also
played well at #1 doubles, before falling to Sophia Lawrence and
Laney Search of George Fox, 8-6.