March 14, 2008

Teams Split Singles Matches But Doubles and Victory Go to Bearcats

Willamette 5, Pacific Lutheran 4

SALEM, ORE. - Every match counted as wins at No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles helped Willamette edge Pacific Lutheran, 5-4, in Northwest Conference women's tennis action at the Courthouse Tennis Club.

Willamette improved to 4-7 overall, while Pacific Lutheran fell to 4-5 on the season. The Bearcats and PLU are tied for fifth place in the NWC at 4-5.

Willamette picked up an important win at No. 3 doubles when Alyssa Morrison and Samantha Wong defeated Ashley Brooks and Esther Ham of PLU, 8-5. The Bearcats also earned a victory at No. 1 doubles with Alaine Anderson and Jamie Slonaker winning the final two games to hold off Liz Currey and Emily Starr, 8-6.

The No. 1 singles match went three sets before PLU's Feltus outlasted Tiffany Kam from Willamette, 6-0, 2-6, 6-1. Feltus teamed with Ashley Coats for PLU's only win in doubles, an 8-3 triumph over Kam and Funabiki at the No. 2 position. The Lutes' other singles wins came from Currey at No. 2 where she beat Morrison, 6-2, 6-2, and from Starr at No. 5 where she topped Slonaker, 6-2, 6-0.

Earlier this season, on Feb. 15, Pacific Lutheran defeated Willamette, 6-3, in Tacoma, Wash. In that match, WU recorded one win in doubles play and lost four of six singles matches. Nearly all of the singles matches were closely contested during the first meeting. In the rematch on Friday, the Bearcats won two doubles matches and went 3-3 in singles play.

(Courtesy of Willamette Sports Information Office.)