Smith Wins Blue Flight of Consolation Singles at ITA Northwest Regional

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Mikaila Smith (Sr., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS) of Willamette University won the Blue Flight in the singles consolation bracket at the ITA Northwest Regional on Sunday, Sept. 24. Smith, who lost a competitive match in the first round of the main singles draw, won four consolation matches to claim the Blue Flight title. Also on Sunday, Willamette's Robin Pashek (Fr., The Dalles, OR/The Dalles-Wahtonka HS) reached the final of the Gray Flight in consolation singles. Smith and Pashek advanced to the semifinals of the consolation doubles bracket.

Smith won her first round consolation match against Emily Sandquist of Whitworth University, 6-1, 6-0, and then won three matches in pro sets on Sunday. In the quarterfinals of the Blue Flight, Smith edged Emma Jo Wiley of Whitworth, 9-7. Smith earned an 8-3 win over Jillian Studer from George Fox University in the semifinals. In the Blue Flight championship match, Smith defeated Michelle Ly of Linfield College, 8-5.

"Mikaila played great to win the consolation final in her bracket," Willamette Head Coach Bryce Parmelly said.

Two other Bearcats competed in the quarterfinals of the Blue Flight. Hannah Jeffries of Pacific Lutheran University defeated Siena Ginsburg (Fr., Bend, OR/Summit HS) of Willamette in one quarterfinal match, 9-8, by winning a tie-breaker 7-3. In another quarterfinal, Studer downed Hannah Andres (Jr., Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) of WU, 8-4.

In the Gray Flight, Pashek won a quarterfinal match over Madeline Ball of Whitworth, 8-4. Also in the quarterfinals, Willamette's Sarah Dean (Fr., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) defeated Bridget Myers from University of Puget Sound, 8-2. In the semifinals, the two Bearcats went head-to-head, with Pashek moving past Dean, 8-1, for a spot in the consolation final.

Erica Lee of Whitworth won the Gray Flight championship with an 8-5 victory over Pashek.

Smith and Pashek rolled past Jenna Alvarez and Mei Roen of Puget Sound in the Round of 16 in the doubles consolation bracket on Sunday, 8-0. In the quarterfinals, Smith and Pashek defeated Tresa Bild and Barclay Fagg from Puget Sound, 8-2. In the semifinals, Studer and Lily Elmer of George Fox outscored Smith and Pashek, 8-5.

The Bearcats have completed their fall schedule and will return to action with the dual-match season in the spring.