By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University senior Ruby Thompson (Bay City, OR/Tillamook HS) provided a strong effort for the Bearcats in both singles and doubles against Jessup University (Calif.) on Saturday, Sept. 16, but the Warriors won the overall match 9-0 at the WU Tennis Courts. Thompson played two competitive matches, falling to Annika Rojas at #4 singles, 6-4, 6-4, and teaming up with Anika Groener (Jr., Bend, OR/Summit HS) for a quality match at #1 doubles. Jessup's top doubles team of Rojas and Nia Macay edged out Groener and Thompson, 8-6.

Jessup advanced its record to 2-0 overall. The Bearcats, playing in their season opener, fell to 0-1 on the season.

At #2 doubles, Jessup's team of Sophia Serdichenko and Danielle Akabane downed Alexa de Crinis (So., Makawao, HI/Seabury Hall School) and Eva Lief (Fy., Anchorage, AK/West Anchorage HS), 8-3. In the #3 doubles match, Jessica Holbea and Katlyn Perry of the Warriors defeated Willamette's duo of Alicia Sola (Fy., Aumsville, OR/Cascade HS) and Marie Tarrab (So., Turner, OR/Cascade HS), 8-2.

The #1 singles match was won by Holbea of Jessup, who moved past de Crinis, 6-1, 6-0. Groener challenged Macay in the first set at #2 singles, with Macay winning the set, 7-6 (7-3), in a tie-breaker. Macay won the second set, 6-0. At #5 singles, Akabane also claimed a close first set before taking the second set, as she defeated Sola of WU, 6-4, 6-0. Also winning for the Warriors were Serdichenko at #3 singles and Perry at #6 singles.

Willamette will compete at the Pacific 5-Way Tournament, hosted by Pacific University next weekend. The tournament is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 23 and Sunday, Sept. 24 in Forest Grove, Oregon.