Bearcats Compete at Second Day of Willamette Valley Three-Way
By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Willamette University women's tennis players concluded the Willamette Valley Three Way on Sunday, Sept. 10 by competing against George Fox University in nine singles and matches and by playing five doubles matches against hosted Linfield College. No team scores were recorded.
George Fox won seven of the nine singles matches, but two of the victories by the Bruins were decided in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set. In the top flight, Catrina Kwong of GFU downed Mikaila Smith (Sr., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS) of Willamette, 6-1, 6-2. At #2 singles, Kristen Mock won for the Bruins, 6-2, 6-4, against Robin Pashek (Fr., The Dalles, OR/The Dalles-Wahtonka HS). At #3 singles, Andrea Motley downed Wilamette's Siena Ginsburg (Fr., Bend, OR/Summit HS), 6-1, 6-0.
The #4 singles match went to Lydia Pia of George Fox, as she moved past Hannah Andres (Jr., Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS), 6-0, 6-0. At #5 singles, GFU's Jillian Studer outlasted Sarah Dean (Fr., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) of WU in a super tie-breaker, 6-4, 0-6, 10-7. Dean forced the super tie-breaker by sweeping through the second set.
Emily Brink prevailed for the Bruins at #6 singles by defeating Mina Mizutani (So., Los Alamitos, CA/Los Alamitos HS), 6-1, 6-3. The #7 singles match was won by Sylvia Marr (Fr., Grants Pass, OR/Hidden Valley HS) of Willamette, 6-4, 6-2, over Taylor Morris of GFU.
At #8 singles, Allie DiPasquale (So., Seattle, WA/Seattle Academy) won for the Bearcats with a 6-4, 6-1 triumph against Danielle Brown. In the #9 singles match, Lily Elmer of George Fox rallied past Noemi Cruz-Cruz (Sr., Galt, CA/Liberty Ranch HS) of WU to win in a super tie-breaker. Cruz-Cruz was victorious in the first set, 6-0. Elmer took the second set, 6-2, and claimed the super tiebreaker, 10-4.
Linfield won all five doubles matches, including a #1 doubles win by Ella Riddle and Basia Kopecka over Smith and Pashek of Willamette, 8-2. At #2 doubles, Michelle Uyeda and Haley Fugimori of Linfield downed Ginsburg and Andres, 8-1. In the #3 doubles match, the Wildcats received a win from Michelle Ly and Marisa Doveri over Mizutani and Alexis Schwartz (Fr., Ontario, OR/Ontario HS), 8-0.
The Wildcats also recorded 8-0 triumphs in the #4 and #5 doubles matches. At #4, Riley Clayeux and Kelsey Bartlett defeated Rachel Kong (Jr., Hayward, CA/Castro Valley HS) and Marr, while the #5 doubles match went to Sierra Lemon and Jesse Vezo against Dean and DiPasquale.
Willamette will participate in the ITA Northwest Regional from Sept. 23 through Sept. 25 in Walla Walla, Washington. Singles and doubles brackets will be played out, with competition going on throughout each day.