Pacific Lutheran Defeats Willamette, 6-3

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

PARKLAND, WASH. -- The Lutes of Pacific Lutheran University prevailed in four of six singles matches on their way to a 6-3 victory over Willamette University in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match on Saturday, Feb. 23 at the Sprinker Tennis Center.

Pacific Lutheran improved to 4-0 overall, 4-0 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 0-5 overall, 0-4 in the NWC.

Willamette won #1 singles and #1 doubles. At #1 singles, Denise Poltavski (So., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS) defeated Samantha Lund of PLU, 7-5, 6-1. In the #1 doubles match, Poltavski and Sabrina Gutierrez (Jr., Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS) downed Lund and Payton McGriff, 8-1.

Gutierrez also gained the edge at #2 singles, where she defeated Leah Newell of PLU, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.

PLU took an early 2-1 advantage by quickly winning #2 and #3 doubles to offset the win by Poltavski and Gutierrez in the #1 match.

In singles, the Lutes added victories from the #3 through #6 positions. All of the wins were in straight sets, but one set ended in a tie-breaker, two sets were decided by 7-5 scores and one set finished at 6-4.

McGriff won #3 singles over Rachel Heringer (Fr., Salem, OR/South Salem HS), 7-5, 6-4. Tina Aarsvold won #3 singles, over Stephanie Matsuura (Fr., Hilo, HI/Waiakea HS), 6-2, 6-1.

Catherine Moilla held off Mandy Carlson (Fr., Boise, ID/Bishop Kelly HS) at #5 singles, 7-5, 6-3. At #6 singles, Allison McClure won 6-2 in the first set, before needing a tie-breaker in the second set to down Yasmine Genena (Fr., Portland, OR/Lake Oswego HS), 7-6 (8-6).

Willamette returns to action on Friday, March 1 with a match at George Fox University. Game time in Newberg, Ore., is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.