Defending Champion Whitworth Downs Willamette, 6-3

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Whitworth University won two of three doubles matches and claimed wins at four of six singles positions to defeat Willamette University, 6-3, in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match at the Courthouse Tennis Club on Saturday, Feb. 19. Whitworth, the defending NWC champion, improved to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the conference. Willamette fell to 1-2, 1-1 in the NWC.

Willamette's Natalia Agarycheva (Sr., Vancouver, WA/Prairie HS/U. of Northern Colorado) won at both #1 singles and #2 doubles. She defeated Rachel Burns, 6-1, 6-1, in the top singles match. At #1 doubles, she combined with Shannon Palmer (Jr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) to down Burns and Alli Marshall, 8-6.

The Pirates won the remaining doubles matches. At #2 doubles, Erica Bosman and Katie Staudinger prevailed against Katie Huber (So., St. Peter, MN/St. Peter HS) and Emily Bee (Jr., Portland, OR/Lincoln HS), 8-2.

In #3 doubles, Megan Wingfield and Claire Hemming edged out Sabrina Gutierrez (Fr., Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS) and Fabi Dieguez (Jr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS/Oregon State Univ.), 8-5.

The closest match of the day was at #3 singles, where Bosman of Whitworth outlasted Huber of Willamette. Huber won the first set, 6-1, but Bosman won a tie-breaker in the second set, 7-6 (7-4).

With the overall team match already decided, Huber and Bosman played a super tie-breaker instead of a third set. Huber held a 9-7 lead before Bosman tallied four consecutive points to win the super tie-breaker, 11-9.

Whitworth also claimed wins at #2, #3 and #6 singles. Willamette took #4 singles, as Gutierrez downed Staudinger in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.

The Bearcats now travel to Walla Walla, Wash., to take on Whitman College in NWC action on Sunday, Feb. 20. Match time is set for 9 a.m. (PST).