Poltavski Set to Compete in Semifinals of Northwest Regional

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

WALLA WALLA, WASH. -- Denise Poltavski (So., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS) of Willamette University has reached the semifinals in singles at the USTA/ITA Northwest Small College Championships, hosted by Whitman College.

One of the semifinal pairs up Poltavski, seeded #7, against Morgan Lawless of Whitman , seeded #5, at 9 a.m. (PDT) on Monday, Sept. 24. The other semifinal features Olivia Cornell from Lewis & Clark College, one of several players seeded #9, competing against Courtney Lawless from Whitman, the #2 seed, at 9 a.m.

Poltavski opened the tournament with a 6-2, 6-0 victory in the first round. She played Marissa Friedman from the University of Puget Sound in the second round, and claimed a 6-1, 6-1 win. In the Round of 16, Poltavski rolled past Gillian Lowe of Lewis & Clark, 6-1, 6-0. Poltavski downed Lisa Osepyan of L&C in the quarterfinals, 6-1,6-4.

Willamette freshman Rachel Heringer won her first singles match of the tournament over Chantelle Hadeed of George Fox University in a super tie-breaker, 6-1, 6-7 (4-7), 10-8. Payton McGriff, on of the athletes seeded #9, downed Heringer in the second round, 6-4, 6-2.

Poltavski and Heringer teamed up for a win in the first round of doubles against Kate Kunkel-Patterson and Maddy Webster of Whitman. After winning in the first round, they defeated Caroline Brigham and Kaila Nip of Linfield College, the #2-seeded doubled team, 8-3, in the Round of 16. In the quarterfinals, Molly Beaumont and Shaina Inn from George Fox, one of several teams seeded #5, outscored Poltavski and Heringer, 8-5.