By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Women's tennis players Alexa de Crinis (Fy., Makawao, HI/Seabury Hall School) of Willamette University and Cren Uribe from Lewis & Clark College battled each other in a highly competitive match at #1 singles on Sunday, March 5 at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club. The #1 singles match began with two close sets and ended with a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set. Uribe outlasted de Crinis to take a 7-5, 3-6, 10-7 victory. The Pioneers won the team match, 9-0, over the Bearcats.

L&C advanced its record to 3-5 on the season, including 1-1 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette slipped to 0-5 on the season, 0-2 in the NWC.

In addition to the closely contested match between Uribe and de Crinis, another tight match occurred at the #3 position. Seraphina Vossen of L&C edged out Anika Groener (So., Bend, OR/Summit HS) of Willamette, 6-4, 7-5. At #2 singles, Arielle Bloom of L&C held off Richelle Suzuki (So., Mililani, HI/Mililani HS) in straight sets, winning 6-2, 6-3. Other winners in singles for the Pioneers were Allison Gabelman at #4, Lauren Smith-Euban at #5, and Yenenesh Cohen at #6.

The Pioneers won all three doubles matches, with Vossen and Susanna Anand grabbing the #1 doubles victory against Suzuki and Groener, 8-0. Bloom and Haley Kreps took #2 doubles over de Crinis and Ruby Thompson (Sr., Bay City, OR/Tillamook HS), 8-3. At #3 doubles, Uribe combined with Cohen to move past McKenna Turner (Jr., Junction City, OR/Junction City HS) and Paisley Lieske (Sr., Seattle, WA/Vashon Island HS), 8-2.

Willamette will take on the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, March 11 at 12 p.m. (PST). The match will be played at the WU Tennis Court if weather permits or at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club if the match has to be moved indoors.