WTEN: LINFIELD 9, GEORGE FOX 0 - Bruins Swept by Wildcats in Next-to-Last Match

McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Playing their next-to-last match of the 2010 season, the George Fox University Bruins were swept 9-0 by their Yamhill County counterparts, the Linfield College Wildcats, in a Northwest Conference women’s tennis match Thursday afternoon here at the Linfield Tennis Center.

Linfield, ranked No. 10 in the NCAA Division III West Region, started with doubles wins by Sallie Katter and Abby Olbrich over George Fox’s Molly Beaumont and Mollee Robinson 8-5 at No. 1, Sophie Larson and Kirstie Franceschina over Liliya Abildayeva and Allie Michelotti 8-1 at No. 2, and Cali Hislop and Gill Heilbrunn over Cara Griffith and Shawna Buck 8-1 at No. 3.

The Wildcats took each of the singles match in straight sets, though the Bruins gave them some stiff competition in several sets.  At the top, Olbrich whitewashed Beaumont 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1; Larson topped Robinson 6-4, 6-1 at No. 2; and Kiana Nip nudged Griffith 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 at No. 3.  Sarah Watanabe downed Abildayeva 6-1, 6-2 at No. 4; Sara Peterson edged Michelotti 6-3, 6-4 at No. 5; and Marisa Steinkamp beat Burch 6-1, 6-0 at No. 6.

George Fox (0-16, NWC 0-15) closes out its season Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at Pacific University.  Linfield (13-4, NWC 12-2), which is one game behind Whitworth University in the NWC standings, has two road matches left, the first Friday at 4:00 p.m. against the University of Puget Sound.