WTEN: Bruins Win Three First-Round Matches in ITA Northwest Championships

McMINNVILLE, Ore. - Two George Fox University singles players and one Bruin doubles team won first-round matches before being eliminated during the 2009 Wilson/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Northwest Regional Championships hosted by Linfield College here Saturday-Monday.

In singles, returnee Mollee Robinson defeated Emily Rolston of Whitman College 6-3, 0-6, (10-8), while newcomer Molly Beaumont swept past Ashley Coats of Pacific Lutheran University 6-3, 4-6, (10-7).  Robinson was knocked out in the second round by Sallie Katter of Linfield 6-0, 6-1, and Beaumont bowed out after a 6-3, 6-0 loss to Erica Bosman of Whitworth University.

Robinson and Beaumont teamed up to record the Bruins' doubles victory as they downed Ada Yu and Madeline Thiesse of the University of Puget Sound 8-3.  Bosman and Mya Towne of Whitworth then eliminated the Bruin duo 8-5.

In other first-round singles matches, Bruin letterwinner Betsy Ann Penman lost to Kirstie Franceschina of Linfield 3-6, 6-3, (10-5), rookie Cara Griffith lost to Kiana Nip of Linfield 6-3, 6-1, and newcomer Allie Michelloti fell to Cat Goya of Pacific University 6-0, 6-3.  The other George Fox doubles team of Penman and Alliotti dropped a 9-8 decision to Hailey Rile and Tina Aarsvold of Pacific Lutheran.

"On the whole, we played well against some of the Northwest's best players," said veteran George Fox coach Rick Cruz.  "Molly Beaumont had a very good win over a player who might be No. 1 for PLU this year, and Mollee Robinson pulled out a nice three-set win over one of Whitman's top players.  Betsy Ann lost a three-set thriller, Allie lost to Pacific's No. 1 player, and Cara had her Linfield opponent on the ropes several times.  Our doubles had a nice win over UPS.

"Playing in this tournament gives a chance to see how we might measure up in the spring against the rest of the Northwest Conference.  I believe we will be a deeper and improved team, but it appears that the other teams have also improved; there's quite a bit of talent in our conference."

Abby Olrich of Linfield won the singles division and Olrich teamed up with Katter to win the doubles, advancing to the ITA National Small College Championships Oct. 15-18 at the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center in Mobile, Ala.