By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

OJAI, Calif. -- Willamette University women's tennis players Sarah Dean (So., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) and Robin Pashek (So., The Dalles, OR/The Dalles-Wahtonka HS) competed in the Women's Division III Invitational Singles bracket at the prestigious Ojai Tennis Tournament on Thursday, April 25. Dean and Pashek also combined as teammates in the first round of the Women's Division III Invitational Doubles bracket.

In the first round of singles, Nicole Fouts of Chapman University (Calif.) outlasted Dean in the first set, 7-5, before defeating Dean in the second set, 6-2. Also in the first round, Ankita Roychoudhury from California Institute of Technology downed Pashek, 6-0, 6-1.

Dean rebounded with a 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 10-8 win over JoAnn Taylor of California Lutheran University during the first round of the consolation singles bracket in a match that was decided in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set. Isabelle Brown from University of California, Santa Cruz, edged out Pashek, 7-6, 6-3, in another first round consolation match.

On Friday in the quarterfinals of the consolations singles bracket, Dean will take on Vivian Lee from UCSC at 9:30 a.m. (PDT). The winner will advance into the semifinals of the consolation bracket on Saturday.

In Willamette's doubles match on Thursday, Dean and Pashek played well, but Fouts and Vasilisa Trofimova of Chapman won in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 10-8. Dean and Pashek won the second set in a regular tie-breaker to force the match into the decisive super tie-breaker. The win advanced Fouts and Trofimova into the quarterfinals on Friday.

"I couldn't be more proud of Sarah and Robin after today," Willamette Head Coach Bryce Parmelly said. "They continue to inspire me with their determination and commitment to improve, while competing with true character at the same time. They are starting to see what they are capable of ... it's such a fun process to be a part of."

Action in the Ojai Tennis Tournament will continue until champions are crowned on Sunday.