By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Willamette University played close sets at #1 doubles, and in five of the six singles matches, but Lewis & Clark College defeated the Bearcats, 9-0, in Northwest Conference women's tennis action on Sunday, April 3 at the LC Tennis Dome. The Pioneers improved to 7-5 overall and to 3-3 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 0-5, 0-4 in the NWC.

At #1 doubles, the L&C team of Rachael Rice and Maca Vives held off Willamette's Richelle Suzuki (Fy., Mililani, HI/Mililani HS) and Anika Groener (Fy., Bend, OR/Summit HS), 8-5. Caren Uribe and Eadie Poulsen won for the Pioneers at #2 doubles, while Lauren Smith-Euben and Kacie Lau picked up a win for L&C at #3 doubles.

Willamette won at least three games in six sets in singles. At #3 singles, Hayley Kreps of L&C barely edged out Camille Gibney (Sr., La Crescenta, CA/Crescenta Valley HS), 6-3, 7-5. In the #2 match, Arielle Bloom outlasted Suzuki, 6-3, 6-4. At #4 singles, Smith-Euben defeated Ruby Blake (So., La Crosse, WI/Central HS) of Willamette, 6-2, in the first set, before holding off Blake in the second set, 6-3. Sujhad Amado Aguad won #6 singles for the Pioners with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Ruby Thompson (So., Bay City, OR/Tillamook HS).

Also earning wins for L&C were Vives at #1 singles and Allison Gabelman at #5 singles.

The Bearcats are scheduled to play at Pacific Lutheran University on Saturday, April 9. Match time is set for 2 p.m. (PDT) in Tacoma, Washington.