By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University earned wins at #2 and #3 doubles, while Anika Groener (So., Bend, OR/Summit HS) picked up a straight set win at #3 singles for the Bearcats, in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match against Pacific University on Sunday, April 9 at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club. It was Senior Day for the Bearcats.
The Boxers won the overall competition, 6-3, as Pacific upped its record to 2-5 overall, 3-1 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 1-9 overall, 2-4 in the NWC.
At #2 doubles, senior Ruby Thompson (Bay City, OR/Tillamook HS) and first-year player Alexa de Crinis (Makawao, HI/Seabury Hall School) defeated Anna Emerson and Anneke Hanson of Pacific, 8-3. In the #3 doubles match, senior Paisley Lieske (Sr., Seattle, WA/Vashon Island HS) and Ruby Blake (Jr., La Crosse, WI/Central HS) of Willamette moved past Angela Nguyen and Keilyn Futter, 8-2. Pacific won #1 doubles, as Cassidy Binder and Syndie Binder downed Richelle Suzuki (So., Mililani, HI/Mililani HS) and Groener, 8-1.
Groener of Willamette rolled past Nguyen at #3 singles, 6-1, 6-1, but the Boxers won the remaining singles matches to rally for the team victory. Even so, three of the matches were close, including very close battles at #5 singles and #6 singles.
In the #5 match, Futter edged past Lieske, 6-4, 7-5. At #6 singles, Aneke Hanson narrowly defeated Alicia Sola (Fy., Aumsville, OR/Cascade HS) of WU. Hanson prevailed in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, 5-7, 6-4, 10-3. The #4 singles position also was close, as Emerson downed Ruby Blake (Jr., La Crosse, WI/Central HS) of Willamette, 6-4, 6-2. Also winning in singles for the Boxers were Cassidy Binder at #1 and Sydnie Binder at #2.
"It was a great match today," Willamette University Director of Tennis Tyler Lynscott said. "It's always tough to lose a close match that could go either way, but credit to Pacific. They stepped up in big moments. I'm really excited with the improvement we've made this year. Also, a big shout out to Paisley for having a great singles match and a great doubles win on her senior day!"
Willamette will return to action on Friday, April 14 at Whitworth University. Match time in Spokane, Washington, is scheduled for 4 p.m. (PDT).
