The Southern Oregon women's tennis team open up 2009 with a 6-3 victory over Linfield Friday night in McMinnville

SOU's victory was highlighted by wins by their fourth-through-sixth players.

Senior Erin Bruni (Eugene, Ore./Sheldon) won the No. 4 singles match 6-2, 6-4, senior Mallory Byers (Bend, Ore./Mountain View) won the No. 5match 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 and junior Rebecca Weicher (Grants Pass, Ore./Grants Pass) won the No. 6 match 6-1, 6-0.

Weicher was a late replacement at No. 6

Also in the singles play, SOU got a victory by senior Katie Ross (Lake Oswego, Ore./Lakeridge) in the No. 1 match 7-6, 6-1.

After dropping the No. 1 doubles match, the teams of Bruni and Byers and Chiles and Duren both were victorious.

The Raiders travel to Willamette Saturday.


SOU 6, Linfield 3

Sallie Katter/Sophie Larson def Ross/Weicher 8-3
Bruni/Byers def Sarah Watanabe/Kiana Nip 8-5
Chiles/Duren def Kirstie Franceschina/Katie Patterson 8-2

Katie Ross (Lake Oswego, Ore./Lakeridge) def. Abby Olbrich 7-6(2) 6-1
Larson def. Charlotte Duren (Gig Harbor, Wash./South Kitsap) 2-6 6-4 6-1
Nip def Heidi Chiles (Redding, Calif./Foothill) 7-5 6-4
Erin Bruni (Eugene, Ore./Sheldon) def Sarah Click 6-2 6-4
Mallory Byers (Bend, Ore./Mountain View) def Patterson 5-7 6-3 6-2
Becca Weicher def Andrea Peterson 6-1 6-0