By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- After picking up two wins in doubles, the Willamette University women's tennis team won four of six singles matches to defeat the University of Puget Sound, 6-3, in a non-conference match on Sunday, Feb. 11 at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club. Willamette evened its record at 1-1 on the season, while Puget Sound fell to 0-2.

Winning singles matches for the Bearcats were Alexa de Crinis (So., Makawao, HI/Seabury Hall School) at the #2 position, Anika Groener (Jr., Bend, OR/Summit HS) at #3, Eva Lief (Fy., Anchorage, AK/West Anchorage HS) at #4, and Alicia Sola (Fy., Aumsville, OR/Cascade HS) at #5.

In the #2 singles match, de Crinis moved past Marissa Perez of Puget Sound, 6-2, 6-2. At #3 singles, Groener nearly swept through the match for a 6-2, 6-0 win over Hyla Chatham.

Lief took #4 singles in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, with Lief rallying past Krishna Agrawal of the Loggers, 2-6, 6-3, 10-5. Sola of Willamette also prevailed in a super tie-breaker at #6 singles. Sola downed Zoe Richter, 6-2, 2-6, 10-7.

The Loggers earned two of their wins at #1 singles and #5 singles. In the #1 singles competition, Kaylee Yamada of PS edged out Richelle Suzuki (Jr., Mililani, HI/Mililani HS) of Willamette in a super tie-breaker, 2-6, 6-4, 10-5. At #5 singles, Zoe Richter of the Loggers downed Ruby Thompson (Grad., Bay City, OR/Tillamook HS) from Willamette, 6-2, 6-3.

Willamette's two victories in doubles were recorded at the #2 and #3 positions. Puget Sound claimed #1 doubles, as Yamada and Agrawal outscored Suzuki and Thompson by a slim 8-6 score. WU's #2 doubles team of de Crinis and Lief defeated Perez and Chatham, 8-4. At #3 doubles, Groener and Sola combined for an 8-5 win against Schneidman and Richter of Puget Sound.

The Bearcats will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 17 when they will host California Lutheran University at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club. Match time is slated for 3 p.m. PST.