By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University women's tennis player Natalia Agarycheva (Jr., Vancouver, WA/Prairie HS/U. of Northern Colorado) has been named Northwest Conference Women's Tennis Student-Athlete of the Week for her efforts during the week ending on Sunday, Feb. 21. Agarycheva helped Willamette defeat Pacific University, 8-1, and also contributed to the Bearcats' 5-4 win over the University of Puget Sound.

Agarycheva earned a 2-0 record in singles and a 2-0 record in doubles during the week. She won her #1 singles match against Cat Goya of Pacific, 6-1, 6-2, on Friday, Feb. 19 and defeated Samantha Taylor of UPS, 6-0, 6-0, at #1 singles on Saturday, Feb. 20.

In #1 doubles against Pacific, Agarycheva combined with Shannon Palmer (So., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) to defeat Goya and Megan Yoshimoto in a pro-set tie-breaker, 9-8 (7-1). Against Puget Sound, Agarycheva and Kate Thurber (Salem, OR/South Salem HS) won #1 doubles over Taylor and Madison Holtz, 8-1.

During the spring season, Agarycheva has achieved a 3-1 record in singles and is 4-0 in doubles. She entered the spring ranked #9 in the West Region in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Fall Rankings for NCAA Division III. Agarycheva and Palmer were ranked #6 in the West Region in doubles.

Willamette's overall team record is 4-1. The Bearcats are also 4-1 in the NWC.