Bearcats Defeat Bellevue in Women's Tennis Exhibition, 7-2

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University defeated visiting Bellevue College (Wash.), 7-2, in a women's tennis exhibition match at the Courthouse Tennis Center on Sunday, March 17. The match was an exhibition because Willamette competes in the NCAA, which does not count competition against community colleges as part of a team's official record.

WU swept the double matches, led by Denise Poltavski (So., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS) and Rachel Heringer (Fr., Salem, OR/South Salem HS), who won #1 doubles over Rixing Xu and Sadie Dedon, 8-6. At #2 doubles, Sabrina Gutierrez (Jr., Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS) and Stephanie Matsuura (Fr., Hilo, HI/Waiakea HS) shut out Barbara Smith and Naline Long, 8-0.

Mandy Carlson (Fr., Boise, ID/Bishop Kelly HS) and Holly Petersen (Fr., Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) completed the doubles sweep with an 8-1 win against Kristi Nasu and Lorraine Eng at the #3 position.

In singles, the Bearcats grabbed four more victories.

Gutierez downed Smith, 6-0, 6-0, at #2 singles. Matsuura also won in two quick sets, 6-0, 6-0, over Long at #4 singles. Carlson did not lose a game while defeating Kristi Nasu at #5 singles, 6-0, 6-0, while Petersen outlasted Eng at #6 singles in a match decided by a super tie-breaker instead of a third set. Petersen won, 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (10-5).

Xu of Bellevue won a close match at #1 singles, as she edged out Poltavski, 7-5, 7-5. The Bulldogs also won #3 singles, where Dedon rallied past Heringer, winning the second set and a super tie-breaker to prevail, 1-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-4).

The Bearcats will return to action over Spring Break with a trio of matches in Los Angeles, Calif.

Willamette will take on Cal Tech on Sunday, March 24 at 2:30 p.m. (PDT) and will battle University of La Verne on Monday, March 25, also at 2:30 p.m. The Bearcats will complete the road trip against Whittier College on Tuesday, March 26 at 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 17

At Courthouse Tennis Center, Salem, Ore.
Willamette University 7, Bellevue College 2 (Exhibition)

Singles
#1 - Rixing Xu (BC) defeated Denise Poltavski (WU), 7-5, 7-5
#2 - Sabrina Gutierrez(WU) defeated Barbara Smith, 6-0, 6-0
#3 - Sadie Dedon (BC) defeatedRachel Heringer(WU), 1-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-4)
#4 - Stephanie Matsuura(WU) defeated Naline Long (BC), 6-1, 6-0
#5 -Mandy Carlson(WU) defeated Kristi Nasu (BC), 6-0, 6-0
#6 - Holly Petersen (WU) defeated Lorraine Eng (BC), 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (10-5)

Doubles
#1 - Poltavski and Heringer (WU) defeated Xu and Dedon (BC), 8-6
#2 - Gutierrez and Matsuura (WU) defeated Smith and Long (BC), 8-0
#3 - Carlson and Petersen (WU) defeated Nasu and Eng (BC), 8-1