Bearcats Fall to UC-Santa Cruz, 9-0, in Women's Tennis

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

WALLA WALLA, WASH. -- Willamette University was defeated by the University of California-Santa Cruz in women's tennis, 9-0, on Thursday, March 27 at neutral courts in Walla Walla, Wash. UC-Santa Cruz improved to 6-7 on the season, while Willamette dropped to 4-8.

Jessica Ruth of UC-Santa Cruz won #1 singles over Tiffany Kam (Sr., Pearl City, HI/Punahou School), 6-1, 6-1. Ruth and Megan Sweeney were victorious at #1 doubles against WU's team of Alaine Anderson (Sr., Santa Ana, CA/Foothill HS) and Jamie Slonaker (Fr., Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS), 8-2.

The Banana Slugs won five of the six singles matches in straight sets. At #6 singles, Samantha Wong (Fr., Honolulu, HI/Iolani HS) of Willamette won the first set, 6-4, before Chrissy Nichol of UCSC won the second set, 6-4. Nichol won the match by prevailing in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, 10-7.

Willamette's women's tennis team will remain in Walla Walla for a Northwest Conference match against Whitman College on Friday, March 28. Match time is set for 1:30 p.m. (PDT). The Bearcats will conclude their three-match road trip at Whitworth University in Spokane, Wash., on Saturday, March 29 at 9 a.m. (PDT).

Thursday, March 27
At Walla Walla, Wash.

University of California-Santa Cruz 9, Willamette University 0

Singles
#1 - Jessica Ruth (UCSC) defeated Tiffany Kam (WU), 6-1, 6-1
#2 - Megan Sweeney (UCSC) defeated Alyssa Morrison (WU), 6-0, 6-0
#3 - Taylor Mannix (UCSC) defeated Alaine Anderson (WU), 6-3, 6-0
#4 - Chayla Furlong (UCSC) defeated Abby Funabiki (WU), 6-2, 6-3
#5 - Kyla Kessler Rowe (UCSC) defeated Jamie Slonaker (WU), 6-3, 6-1
#6 - Chrissy Nichol (UCSC) defeated Samantha Wong (WU), 4-6, 6-4, 10-7*

Doubles
#1 - Ruth and Sweeney (UCSC) defeated Anderson and Slonaker (WU), 8-2
#2 - Mannix and Furlong (UCSC) defeated Kam and Funabiki (WU), 8-4
#3 - Kessler Rowe and Nichol (UCSC) defeated Morrison and Wong (WU), 8-2

* Tie-breaker played instead of a third set

Records: Willamette University is 4-8 on the season; UC-Santa Cruz is 6-7 overall.