By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Sylvia Marr (So., Grants Pass, OR/Hidden Valley HS) won #4 singles over Johanna Wilson in two highly-competitive sets to provide the winning team point, as Willamette University defeated Pacific Univeristy, 5-4, in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match on Sunday, April  14 at the Holce Tennis Courts.

Marr and Wilson were still competing when the overall match became tied at 4-4. Marr won the first set against Wilson in a tie-breaker, 7-6 (7-3). In the second set, Marr held off Wilson for a 6-4 victory.

"I am super impressed with my team and the effort today," Willamette Head Coach Bryce Parmelly said. "We came out much stronger in doubles and maintained the momentum all the way through. It's always fun when a match comes down to the wire and we find a way to push it across.

The Bearcats claimed a 2-1 lead in doubles, with wins at the #1 and #3 positions. In the #1 match, Sarah Dean (So., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) and Robin Pashek (So., The Dalles, OR/The Dalles-Wahtonka HS) of WU defeated Marissa Hayashi and Chantelle Baclay, 8-3. At #3 doubles, Hannah Andres (Sr., Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) and Siena Ginsburg (So., Bend, OR/Summit HS) also won 8-3, as they moved past Megan Meatte and Adrienne Powell.

Wilson and Halie Chang of Pacific took #2 doubles by outscoring Marr and Alexis Gjurasic (Sr., Olympia, WA/Capital HS), 8-5.

Marr's decisive win at #4 singles was one of three victories for the Bearcats during singles action. Also winning singles matches for Willamette were Pashek and Andres. Pashek rolled past Chang at #2 singles, 6-0, 6-0. Andres defeated Meatte, 6-1, 6-4.

The Boxers also prevailed in three singles matches. Baclay registered a triumph at #1 singles against Dean, 6-2, 6-0. Powell outscored Ginsburg in the first set at #3 singles, 6-4, and then won the second set, 6-0. Hayashi grabbed the win that tied the match at 4-4 when she downed Gjurasic, 6-2, 6-2, at #5 singles.

Willamette will play at Lewis & Clark College on Friday, April 19. Match time in Portland, Oregon, is scheduled for 4 p.m. (PDT).

Big Moment of the Match for Willamette

Sylvia Marr provided the Big Moment with the big win, as
she defeated Pacific's Johanna Wilson at #4 singles to break
a 4-4 tie in the team score and send the Bearcats to a 5-4 win.
Marr moved past Wilson, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4.