By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Ruby Blake (So., La Crosse, WI/Central HS) and Ruby Thompson (So., Bay City, OR/Tillamook HS) won #3 doubles in a tie-breaker during Willamette University's non-conference women's tennis match at Lewis & Clark College on Sunday, March 27. Blake and Thompson outlasted L&C's team of Kacie Lau and Cassandra Harper, 8-7 (7-5). The Pioneers defeated the Bearcats, 8-1, in the overall match.

The team win improved L&C to 3-2 on the season, while the Bearcats fell to 0-1. Willamette will start Northwest Conference play on Sunday, March 6 at Pacific University. Match time is set for 11 a.m. (PST) in Forest Grove, Oregon.

Two of the three doubles matches between Willamette and Lewis & Clark went to a tie-breaker. In addition to the win for Blake and Thompson via the tie-breaker at #3 doubles, the match at #1 doubles also was deadlocked after 14 games. Rachael Rice and Eadie Poulsen from L&C won the tie-breaker over Anika Groener (Fy., Bend, OR/Summit HS) and Richelle Suzuki (Fy., Mililani, HI/Mililani HS), 7-3, to win the match, 8-7.

Two other close matches were held in singles. At the #2 position, Arielle Bloom won for the Pioneers against Suzuki of Willamette in two very competitive sets, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4). At #4 singles, Lauren Smith-Euben of L&C edged out Camille Gibney (Sr., La Crescenta, CA/Crescenta Valley HS) of WU in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, 2-6, 6-4, 10-7.

At #5 singles, Allison Gabelman of L&C held off McKenna Turner (So., Junction City, OR/Junction City HS) in the first set, 6-3, before winning the second set, 6-0. Other winners in singles for the Pioneers were Caren Uribe at #1, Hayley Kreps at #3, and Sujhad Amado Aguad at #6. Uribe and Kreps also earned a win at #2 doubles.