Willamette University
Women’s Tennis 2008-09 Abby Funabiki Senior
Alyssa Morrison Junior
Shannon Palmer Freshman
Athletic Facilities
Willamette University Women’s Tennis 2008-09
The WU Tennis Courts -- Home of Bearcat Tennis: Willamette University hosts men’s and women’s tennis matches at the Willamette University Tennis Courts each season. There are six courts, plus seating for fans.
The Bearcat men’s and women’s tennis teams plays home matches at the Willamette University Tennis Courts, located on campus. The facility includes six courts, divided by seating for fans in the center and created on two elevations. WU’s split-level facility creates a special atmosphere, enhanced by trees and bushes surrounding the courts. Whenever the WU Tennis Courts aren’t available due to the weather, the tennis teams practice and play at the Courthouse Tennis Club. John Lewis Field is the home of Willamette Bearcat baseball. The field is located at Roy S. “Spec” Keene Stadium at Bush’s Pasture Park. The stadium features chairback seating in part of the grandstand. Overall capacity is 1,000. Willamette’s football team plays home games at McCulloch Stadium, located near John Lewis Field. The stadium seats a total of 2,400 fans and has lights for night games. It also features a new scoreboard with a video display screen. There is an athletic training room, along with spacious locker rooms and meeting rooms.
When indoor courts are needed, the Bearcat tennis teams play at the Courthouse Tennis Club in Salem, Ore.
Kristen Dedijer-Small sets up on the baseline.
McCulloch Stadium creates the atmosphere of an old stadium, but provides many modern conveniences. It has a FieldTurf surface. The Charles Bowles Track, located inside McCulloch Stadium, is an all-weather facility that showcases Willamette’s track and field and cross country teams, which host meets each year. The entire football, track, cross country and baseball complex is at Bush’s Pasture Park. The park hosts cross country meets on its wide paths and is known for its art exhibits and rose garden. Cone Field House is the home court for the Willamette men’s basketball, women’s basketball and volleyball teams. The arena holds 2,500 fans, with plenty of seating on each side of the court. There is a quality sound system, plus tables for official timers, scorekeepers and statisticians, along with space for broadcast media. Cone Field House is part of the Lestle J. Sparks Center, which houses offices for the Department of Athletics and the Department of Exercise Science. The building has basketball, handball and racquetball courts, a weight lifting and fitness center, classrooms and locker rooms. Also connected to the Sparks Center is the WU natatorium, home of Bearcat swimming. The natatorium, with space for 200 fans, also can be seen from a viewing area in the lobby.
Abby Funabiki hits a groundstroke.
The Bearcat soccer teams play home games at Sparks Field, an artificial turf facility next to the Sparks Center. The field is equipped with lights for night games and seats 500 spectators. It also has seating for both teams, plus a public address system. The facility is one of the top college fields in the Northwest. Close to the Sparks Center and Sparks Field are six outdoor tennis courts. The men’s and women’s tennis teams host meets during the spring each year. On the east side of campus is the Willamette Softball Complex. It includes covered dugouts, batting cages, a scoreboard and bleachers. The WU men’s and women’s golf teams usually practice at Illahe Hills Country Club or Creekside Golf Club. Members of the men’s and women’s rowing teams have their own boathouse and hold workouts on the Willamette River in downtown Salem.
Fabi Dieguez prepares to return the ball. She is a freshman for the Bearcats this season.
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Willamette Administration
Willamette University Women’s Tennis 2008-09
Dr. M. Lee Pelton
President
Dr. M. Lee Pelton was appointed the 22nd president of Willamette University in July, 1999. Under Pelton’s leadership, the University has increased its academic profile, successfully employing strategies to attract the best faculty and the brightest students from the state, the nation and the world. Since 2001, Willamette University has been ranked a top tier liberal arts college by U.S. News and World Report. President Pelton holds a doctorate from Harvard University and an undergraduate degree in English and psychology from Wichita State University, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1974. His area of academic focus is 19th century British prose and poetry. He served as dean of the college at Colgate University (1988-91) and Dartmouth College (1991-98). At Harvard, he taught in the English Department and was the dean of one of Harvard’s 13 undergraduate colleges. He teaches at Willamette in subjects ranging from 1st century Athens to post-apartheid South Africa.
Mark Majeski
Director of Athletics
Mark Majeski began his tenure with Willamette University in October of 2000, following five years as athletic director at the University of California, Santa Cruz and four years as assistant athletic director at Menlo College. He currently serves as the chairman of the NCAA Division III membership committee, which provides oversight of the Division III provisional member program. Majeski previously served on the NCAA Division III men’s tennis committee, overseeing championships in that sport. A former basketball, track and softball coach, Majeski also worked venue management and operations for the 1994 FIFA Men’s Soccer World Cup and the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. At WU, Majeski oversees 20 varsity teams, with the Bearcats competing in NCAA Division III, the Northwest Conference and the Intercollegiate Rowing Association. He also is the basketball liaison between the NWC coaches and athletic directors. Majeski received an undergraduate degree in journalism from Menlo College and a master’s degree in higher education administration from San Jose State University. He lives in Salem with his wife, Denise, and their son, Jack Henry, age 4.
Department of Athletics Administrative Staff Dean of Campus Life.................................................................................. Dr. Robert Hawkinson Faculty Athletic Representative.................................................................................. Dr. Jerry Gray Assistant Athletic Director............................................................................................Judy Gordon Associate Athletic Director..............................................................................Dr. R. Skip Kenitzer Head Athletic Trainer...........................................................................................Shane Wibel, ATC Assistant Athletic Trainer....................................................................................Erin Scharer, ATC Assistant Athletic Trainer.......................................................................................Ken Smith, ATC Athletics Communications Director...................................................................Robert McKinney Administrative Assistant............................................................................................. Leslie Berning Athletics Department Intern.......................................................................................... Sara Brooks
Willamette University General Information Location.........................................................................................................................Salem, Oregon Founded...........................................................................................................................................1842 Enrollment............................................................................... 1,864 Undergraduate; 2,663 Overall Nickname................................................................................................................................. Bearcats Colors.............................................................................................................. Cardinal and Old Gold National Affiliation............................................................................................. NCAA Division III Conference....................................................................................... Northwest Conference (NWC) Home Facility..........................................................................Willamette University Tennis Courts Athletics Communications Phone.............................................................................(503) 370-6110 Athletics Department Phone.....................................................................................(503) 370-6420 Athletics Department FAX........................................................................................(503) 370-6379 Athletics Department Web Site........................................................www.willamette.edu/athletics
Willamette University Women’s Tennis 2008-09 Season
Head Coach......................... Becky Roberts. Season at WU.........................................9th. Alma Mater................University of Texas Year Graduated.................................... 1976 Office Phone...................... (503) 370-6804 Assistant Coach.................Shaun Mihalick 2008-09 NWC Regular Season........5th tie 2008-09 NWC Tournament........6th Place
Bearcat Head Coaches Baseball Aaron Swick...................................... (503) 370-6011 Men’s Basketball Kip Ioane........................................... (503) 370-6420 Women’s Basketball Anne Lapray...................................... (503) 370-6132 Cross Country/Track & Field Matt McGuirk................................... (503) 370-6898 Football Mark Speckman................................ (503) 375-5350 Men’s Golf Steve Prothero.................................. (503) 370-6484 Women’s Golf Tom Hibbard.................................... (503) 370-6317 Rowing Susan Parkman................................. (503) 370-6655 Men’s Soccer Nelson Larson.................................. (503) 375-5428 Women’s Soccer Hillary Arthur................................... (503) 370-6657 Softball Damian Williams.............................. (503) 370-6656 Swimming Al Stephenson.................................. (503) 370-6601 Men’s Tennis Toby Krauel...................................... (503) 370-6841 Women’s Tennis Becky Roberts................................... (503) 370-6804 Volleyball Tom Shoji.......................................... (503) 370-6230
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The Bearcats
Willamette University Women’s Tennis 2008-09 Head Coach Becky Roberts (9th year) Becky Roberts completed her ninth season as the head women’s tennis coach at Willamette University in 2008-09, as the Bearcats qualified for the NWC Tournament. In 2004-05, Roberts led Willamette to an overall record of 10-4 and a fourth place finish in the NWC regular season standings with a 7-4 mark. She was chosen NWC Coach of the Year in 2003-04, when she guided the Bearcats to third place at the NWC Tournament. Roberts graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Health. She received a master’s degree in Education/Supervision from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1984. She previously coached the Willamette men’s tennis team and also spent 19 years as the head men’s and women’s coach at UT-San Antonio in NCAA Division I. Roberts lives in Salem.
Abby Funabiki
Alyssa Morrison
Junior 5’4” Pullman, Washington Pullman High School
Junior 5’5” Anacortes, Washington Anacortes High School
Major: Political Science
Major: Rhetoric and Media Studies
Samantha Wong
Brooke Sessums
Junior 5’2” Honolulu, Hawaii Iolani School
Sophomore 5’6” Stayton, Oregon Stayton High School
Major: Biology Minor: Chemistry
Major: Psychology
Jamie Slonaker
Emily Bee
Sophomore 5’5” Bainbridge Island, Washington Bainbridge High School
Freshman 5’4” Portland, Oregon Lincoln High School
Major: Undecided
Major: Biology
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The Bearcats
Willamette University Women’s Tennis 2008-09
Kristen Dedijer-Small
Fabi Dieguez
Freshman 5’2” Dallas, Oregon Oaks Christian High School Chemeketa Comm. College
Freshman 5’4” Salem, Oregon Sprague High School Oregon State University
Major: Undecided
Major: Psychology
Sylvia Kim
Reva Main
Freshman 5’3” Beaverton, Oregon Southridge High School
Freshman 5’2” Naches, Washington Naches Valley High School
Major: Biology
Major: Art History Minor: Studio Art
Annika Moffett
Samia Munayirji
Freshman 5’8” Portland, Oregon Lincoln High School
Freshman 5’6” Eagle, Idaho Eagle High School
Major: Pre-Medicine
Major: Undecided
Shannon Palmer Freshman 5’2” Salem,Oregon Sprague High School Major: Exercise Science Minor: Japanese The 2008-09 Bearcats (Not pictured: Shannon Palmer)
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About Willamette University Willamette University Women’s Tennis 2008-09
Willamette Athletics is the place for Scholars and Champions Willamette University, the first university in the West, has a heritage dating to 1842. Students and employees at Willamette are proud of its academic strength, as well as its beautiful, tree-lined campus. Academic success is typical for students at Willamette. More importantly, faculty and staff are concerned about the overall success of each student, so the focus is not only on quality experiences in the classroom, but also on social and cultural development. Students are expected to work hard in their academic endeavors and are also expected to have fun, be active in the community and bring their own personality to everything they do. We’re proud of our students’ academic abilities. We’re also proud of our students as friends, neighbors and fellow citizens. They have found an ideal match between high-level academics and a variety of quality experiences as members of the community. They exemplify the University motto: “Not unto ourselves alone are we born.” This motto is put into action locally and throughout the world. At Willamette, you can study abroad, as many of our students
The Oregon State Capitol is located north of the Willamette University campus.
Historic Waller Hall (left) and Eaton Hall are seen from across the campus quad.
do each year. Our students also are actively involved in social and environmental issues. They are concerned about maintaining the beautiful Oregon landscape, while working to improve the lives of others. And so, while Willamette has the same academic expectations as the nation’s most acclaimed colleges and universities, we hope we’ve added something extra ... an equally important focus outside the classroom. Attending college should be fun, inspiring and at times invigorating. It should both challenge you and make you laugh. Academically, Willamette has the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Law, the George H. Atkinson Graduate School of Management, and the School of Education. Cooperative programs enable all students to benefit from the overall curriculum. Willamette is known for its intellectual vitality, its cohesive campus community, its concern for every student, and its ability to balance a rigorous academic program with varied extracurricular activities. The faculty and staff bring a wide range of views and experiences to the the campus. Willamette’s student-faculty ratio of 11:1 allows faculty to maintain ample office hours and to serve as advisors. They are engaged in scholarly research and publish their findings, but they are primarily focused on teaching. Willamette is selective and seeks serious and talented students. The average first-year student has a 3.74 GPA, an SAT score of 1240 and an ACT score of 27. Enrollment at the undergraduate level is 1,943, with a
total enrollment of 2,628. About 95 percent of Willamette students receive financial aid and scholarships. Many students choose to attend graduate or professional school. Willamette’s endowment is consistently among the largest in the Northwest and compares favorably on a national basis. The campus features 42 buildings on 61 acres.
Why Choose Willamette University? Quality Academics Student-Athletes are more than 1/4 of the student body Competition in the NCAA and the Northwest Conference Student-Faculty Ratio of 11:1 Students from 44 States and 26 Foreign Countries Opportunity to Study Abroad Located across the street from the Oregon State Capitol Near the Pacific Coast and the Cascade Mountains During the past decade, more than $50 million has been invested in the campus. Recent projects include the $5.5 million Hallie Ford Museum of Art, the $8 million Mary Stuart Rogers Music Center, and the $2.7 million Montag Student Center and the $14 million Kaneko Commons.
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About Willamette University Willamette University Women’s Tennis 2008-09
Construction is now underway on Ford Hall, which will house Rhetoric and Media Studies, Computer Science, Math, Digital Art, Film Studies and Music Technology. Funds for the 46,000-square-foot building include an $8 million gift from Hallie Ford. Running through the WU campus is the Mill Stream. It creates a beautiful setting to walk to classes, play games on the campus
Willamette is a member of NCAA Division III. The Bearcats compete in the Northwest Conference, which includes teams in Oregon and Washington. quad or hang out with friends. Willamette is fortunate to have a great combination of wonderful landscaping, beautiful trees and open spaces. Students also interact with a friendly and attentive faculty and staff. Willamette benefits from its location across the street from the Oregon State
Capitol and from being near other federal, state, county, and city offices. In particular, Willamette students are often chosen for internships with government organizations. Students also participate in a wide variety of volunteers service projects through the Community Outreach Program. The Willamette football team is involved with the United Way Days of Caring each year. Other WU athletic teams also have been active in the surrounding area through community service events. Salem, the state capital, is the secondlargest city in Oregon, with a population of about 147,000. Salem features a range of restaurants, theaters and other cultural opportunities ... many within easy walking distance. The Willamette River winds its way through Salem’s historic downtown district before flowing northward. The Pacific Coast is an hour to the west, the Cascade Mountains are about the same distance to the east and Portland is just 45 minutes to the north. Also in the region are the Columbia River gorge and Mount Hood.
The Willamette campus: Top Right — Students study together in the Mark O. Hatfield Library; Top Left — The Putnam University Center is surrounded by beautiful trees and bushes; Bottom — The Mill Stream provides a great place to play catch or relax with friends.
Academic Choices
Undergraduate Majors (M), minors (m), special programs (s)
American Ethnic Studies (m) American Studies (M) Anthropology (M, m) Art History (M, m) Art, Studio (M, m) Asian Studies (m) Art, Technology, and Multimedia (m) Biology (M, m) BA/MBA Business Management (s) Chemistry (M, m) Chinese Studies (m) Classical Studies (M, m) Comparative Literature and the History of Ideas (M) Computer Science (M, m) Economics (M, m) 3-2 Engineering (s) English (M, m) Environmental Science (M, m) Exercise Science (M) Film Studies (m) 3-2 Forestry (s) French (M, m) Geography (m) German (M, m) History (M, m) Humanities (M) International Studies (M) Japanese (m) Japanese Studies (M) Latin American Studies (M, m) Mathematics (M, m) Music (M, m)* Philosophy (M, m) Physics (M, m) Politics (M, m) Pre-law (s) Pre-medicine (s) Pre-veterinary Medicine (s) 3-2 Public Management (s) Psychology (M, m) Religious Studies (M, m) Rhetoric and Media Studies (M, m) Russian (m) Science Studies (M, m) Sociology (M, m) Spanish (M, m) Theatre (M, m) Women’s and Gender Studies (M, m) * In addition to the Bachelor of Arts degree, Willamette University offers the Bachelor of Music degree in Music Composition, Music Education and Music Performance
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Conference and National Affiliations Willamette University Women’s Tennis 2008-09 NCAA Division III Willamette is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and competes in Division III, which has over 425 members and is the largest NCAA division. The colleges in Division III place a priority on the overall quality of the educational experience and on successful completion of each student’s academic programs. They seek an environment in which a student-athlete’s activities with an athletic team are seen as an integral part of his or her educational experience. Members in Division III must sponsor at least five men’s sports and five women’s sports.
Athletes in Division III do not receive financial aid related to athletic ability. Willamette and other NCAA Division III members encourage students to participate by maximizing the variety of athletic opportunities. Primary emphasis is placed on conference and regional play. Willamette often sends its teams to California, Idaho, Washington and Texas for in-region games. NCAA Division III members establish an environment with cultural diversity and gender equity among student-athletes and staff. In Division III, faculty and staff care about the well-being of student-athletes.
Northwest Conference The nine private colleges and universities in Oregon and Washington that form the Northwest Conference are building a reputation for the NWC as one of the top NCAA Division III leagues in the nation. The NWC is nationally competitive in a broad spectrum of sports. Formed in 1926, the NWC is 80 years old and is one of the oldest conferences in the western United States. The NWC’s current members in Oregon are Willamette, George Fox, Linfield, Lewis and Clark, and Pacific. Members located in Washington are Pacific Lutheran, Puget Sound, Whitman and Whitworth. Charter members included Willamette, the College of Idaho, Linfield, Pacific and Puget Sound. Albany College was added in 1931, remained for seven years and then returned in 1949 as Lewis & Clark College.
Pacific Lutheran joined in 1965 and was followed by Whitworth in 1970. The College of Idaho withdrew from the conference in 1978. Whitworth dropped out in 1984 and returned in 1988. Menlo joined in 2006 as a member in football only. The NWC offers championships in 18 sports (nine men’s and nine women’s). The NWC originally sponsored athletic competition for men’s sports only, but joined forces with the Women’s Conference of Independent Colleges in 1984 to form the Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges. The name was shortened back to the original Northwest Conference in 1998. Also in 1998, all nine NWC members shifted affiliation from the NAIA to the NCAA. Members knew the move would foster equity, sportsmanship and a genuine concern for all student-athletes.
NWC Membership
2009 NWC Tournament
George Fox University.............Newberg, Ore. University of Puget Sound......Tacoma, Wash. Lewis & Clark College...............Portland, Ore. Whitman College............. Walla Walla, Wash. Linfield College................... McMinnville, Ore. Whitworth University............. Spokane, Wash. Pacific University.............. Forest Grove, Ore. Willamette University................... Salem, Ore. Pacific Lutheran University.....Tacoma, Wash. (All members compete in NCAA Division III)
At Yakima Tennis Center Yakima, Wash. • April 17-18 Featuring the top teams in the NWC regular season standings. Willamette qualified for the NWC Tournament and finished in sixth place.
2009 Willamette University Women’s Tennis Schedule Date
Opponent
Time 1 p.m. Feb. 13 at Whitworth* 2 p.m. Feb. 14 at Whitman* 11 a.m. Feb. 20 Puget Sound*# 12 p.m. Feb. 26 Linfield*# 12 p.m. Feb. 27 Pacific*# 12 p.m. Mar. 1 at Lewis & Clark* 10 a.m. Mar. 6 at Pacific Lutheran* 2 p.m. Mar. 8 George Fox*^ 1 p.m. Mar. 13 Whitworth*# 7 p.m. Mar. 14 Whitman*^ 3 p.m. Mar. 25 at Southern Oregon 10 a.m. Mar. 27 at Pacific* 3 p.m. Mar. 29 Lewis & Clark*^ 10:30 a.m. Apr. 3 Pacific Lutheran*^ 3:30 p.m. Apr. 4 at George Fox* 11 a.m. Apr. 5 Lewis & Clark State^ 9 a.m. Apr. 10 at Linfield* 3:30 p.m. Apr. 11 at Puget Sound* 1 p.m. Apr. 17-18 at NWC Tournament% All Day Feb. 7 Southern Oregon#
# Courthouse Tennis Club (1339 Madison NE, Salem) ^ WU Tennis Courts near the Sparks Center * Northwest Conference match % At Yakima, Wash. Home matches in Bold Face
Palmer Places Second at ITA Regional in Singles Shannon Palmer of Willamette finished in second place in singles at the Wilson/ITA Small College Northwest Regional Women’s Tennis Championship, hosted by Willamette in the fall of 2008. Palmer lost to Elise Otto of Whitman in the championship match. Palmer and doubles partner Abby Funabiki advanced to the semifinals in doubles. Palmer continued her solid play during the spring season and received First Team All-Northwest Conference recognitions for her efforts. Palmer was 9-8 at #1 singles, as she faced the top players in the NWC. She achieved victories over fellow First Team All-NWC selections Cat Goya of Pacific and Sallie Katter of Linfield. Palmer also played #1 doubles for the Bearcats. NWC Women’s Tennis Student-Athlete of the Week Honoring Outstanding Play on the Court Shannon Palmer (WU) - March 9, 2009 Shannon Palmer (WU) - April 6, 2009
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