WALLA WALLA, Wash. - The #29 Lewis & Clark women's tennis team earned a huge 5-2 win over #36 Linfield in the Northwest Conference Semifinals on Friday afternoon at Whitman College.
Junior Aurora Garrison and frehsman Wiktoria Plawska earned the first point of the match, defeating Kaila Nip and Kelly Watanabe 8-0 in No. 3 doubles.
Trialing 1-0, the Wildcats tied the match after Ella Riddle and Mackenzie Fraser defeated Christine Eliazo and Kacey Incerpi 8-4 in the No. 1 doubles position.
The Pioneers were able to take a 2-1 lead into singles, after Summer Garrison and Claudia Lew fought their way to an 8-3 win. The pair defeated Basia Kopecka and Courtney Hammagren in the No. 2 spot.
A. Garrison handed the Pioneers a 3-1 lead after making quick work of Kopecka in singles play. The older Garrison won easily as the Pios No. 2 player, picking up a 6-1, 6-0 victory.
Eliazo made it 4-1 Lewis & Clark moments later with a win over Fraser in the No. 5 spot. The freshman collected a 6-3, 6-1 win.
In the battle of No. 1's, the Wildcats Riddle got the better of S. Garrison, taking down the Pio freshman 6-3, 6-1.
With the Wildcats trying to claw their way back into the contest, Plawska put an end to the whole thing with a win in the No. 3 spot. The freshman defeated Nip 6-2, 6-4, sending the Pioneers into the championship game.
The Pioneers will face-off against the host #23 Whitman Missionaries on Saturday, April 25 at 10 a.m in the NWC Championship Final. The winner will earn the conference's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III National Tournament.
