Katter's upset highlights win over L&C

February 20, 2009

McMINNVILLE, Ore. - Linfield’s Sallie Katter (Sr., Salem, Ore.) rose to the occasion, knocking off Lewis & Clark all-star Amilia Nilsson at No. 1 singles to lead the Wildcats past the Pioneers in a Northwest Conference women’s tennis match Friday at the Linfield courts.

Katter rallied to beat Nilsson 6-2, 4-6, 10-7 the match’s spotlight pairing. Amalia Nilsson went unbeaten in conference play last season for the Pioneers.

In addition to Katter’s victory, the Wildcats won five more singles matches. Linfield frosh Abby Olbrich (Soph., Vancouver, Wash.) defeated L&C’s Whitney Debree 6-3, 6-2 at No. 2, Sophie Larson (Jr., Eugene, Ore.) blanked Clio Beatty 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3, and Kiana Nip (Soph., Lahaina, Hawaii) rolled past Paige Earhart 6-0, 6-2 at No. 4. Rounding out the scoring for the Wildcats was Sarah Watanabe (Jr., Kirkland, Wash.), who won in straight sets over the Pioneers’ Caitlyn Homer, 6-2, 6-1.

Lewis & Clark picked up its lone singles win at No. 5, where Jill Coleman survived a tight battle with Sarah Click (Jr., Vancouver, Wash.), winning 1-6, 7-6 (1), 10-4.

In doubles play, Nilsson and DeBree handed Katter and Larson and 8-5 defeat at No. 1. Former high school teammates Click and Olbrich assembled an 8-2 win over Beatty and Homer at No. 2, and Watanabe and Nip posted an identical score over Earhart and Coleman at No. 3.

“Sallie had a tremendous win by playing smart, gutsy tennis,” praised Wildcats coach Amy Dames Smith. “Our freshmen - Nip and Olbrich - also represented well by coming up with wins in doubles and singles. Sophie Larson (Jr., Eugene, Ore.) had a nearly flawless match at No. 3 singles. Overall, a great team win.”

The Wildcats (3-2, 3-0 NWC) won their third straight match. Lewis & Clark (0-3, 0-4 NWC) remained winless this season.

NEXT: Linfield meets Willamette in Salem Thursday at noon. Friday, the Wildcats face George Fox in Newberg at 2 p.m.

Sallie Katter
Big win at No. 1