By John Lind and Robert McKinney

PORTLAND, ORE -- The Willamette University women's tennis team fell to Northwest Conference rival Lewis & Clark College, 8-1, in a women's tennis dual match on Saturday, March 16 at the LC Tennis Dome.

Willamette fell to 1-9 overall and to 1-8 in the NWC this season. The Pioneers improved to 8-2 overall, 8-1 in the NWC.

The Bearcats' lone win came in the #1 doubles match. Sabrina Gutierrez (Jr.,Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS) and Denise Poltavski (So,Woodland Hills, C/El Camino Real HS) teamed up to best the Lewis & Clark duo of Aurora Garrison and Gillian Lowe, 8-4. Gutierrez and Poltavski improved to 6-4 on the season, including 6-3 against NWC opponents.

Olivia Cornell and Claudia Lew of L&C took #2 doubles over Rachel Heringer (Fr., Salem, OR/South Salem HS) and Stephanie Matsuura (Fr., Hilo, HI/Waiakea HS) of WU, 8-3. Isabelle Borris and Lisa Osepyan won #3 doubles, helping the Pioneers move in front, 2-1, in the team standings.

L&C added wins in all six singles matches. At #2 singles, Cornell outlasted Gutierrez in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. In the #4 singles match, Lowe of L&C defeated Heringer at #4 in straight sets, but had to win a battle in the first set, 7-5, before taking the second set, 6-1.

Willamette next faces NJCAA member Bellevue College on Sunday, March 17 in a exhibition match at the Courthouse Tennis Center. Play is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. (PDT).