Abby Olbrich likes winning.
She just doesn’t like to keep track of how much she is winning.
A three-time first-team all-Northwest Conference selection, the Linfield College senior is establishing herself on the school’s all-time lists for women’s tennis victories.
Last weekend, the Skyview High School graduate won her 50th career collegiate doubles match.
She learned that later.
“I didn’t even know about it until I saw it on the website, but it’s cool,” Olbrich said. “I didn’t really think about that.”
She does not concern herself with such things.
“I just try to do my best and win and compete,” Olbrich said. “I don’t look at that other stuff.”
Other stuff like the fact that she is two wins away from her 50th career collegiate singles victory. With three matches this weekend, she could reach that mark soon.
“I didn’t know that, either,” Olbrich said.
She is 50-19 in doubles matches and 48-18 in singles at Linfield, each number of victories placing her ninth — so far — in program history. Her winning percentages are ninth for doubles (.725) and 11th for singles (.727) all-time.
“It’s pretty cool,” Olbrich said. “I’ve never thought about it that much, but it’s kind of cool to be up there with the best at Linfield.”
With marks of 5-1 in singles and 6-1 in doubles this season playing with Caroline Brigham, the wins keep adding up. Unfortunately, by a very small amount, so have losses.
“I’ve already lost one doubles match and one singles match, but that’s OK,” Olbrich said. “I wanted to go undefeated this season, but I’ll try for only one loss, I guess.”
After NWC matches Friday at Pacific and at home Saturday against Whitworth, the Wildcats play at noon Sunday at Portland State.
Except that “at Portland State” actually means at Club Green Meadows in Vancouver, the Vikings’ home courts.
“I’ve played at Green Meadows,” Olbrich said. “Not since I’ve been at Linfield, but a few years ago. Maybe freshman year I played there in the summer, but it’s kind of nice to get back to those courts. I know them pretty well.”
Linfield’s break from conference play then continues with a spring break road trip to California.
Olbrich said those matches will provide good preparation as the Wildcats seek to claim the NWC title.
After also playing point guard for the Linfield women’s basketball team as a junior, Olbrich is concentrating on tennis for her final season. Her schedule was particularly hectic a year ago during the time when basketball and tennis seasons overlapped, and it took a toll.
“At the end of last year, I was really burned out, I guess,” Olbrich said. “All summer, I didn’t even want to play a sport. I just wanted to work out and stuff. I decided it might be best to just focus on tennis this year and school and graduation. I thought it would be better to do one sport this year. I do miss it, though. I miss playing basketball.”
Turner, Arn make marks for GFU
Hudson’s Bay High School graduate Alyssa Turner and Woodland High School graduate Charity Arn each made an impact for the George Fox University women’s track and field team in recent weeks.
Turner, a junior, placed third in the 400 meters at the University of Washington Final Qualifier indoor meet March 3 in Seattle, setting an indoor school record of 58.79 seconds.
Arn, a freshman, won the high jump and javelin at GFU’s Rich Allen Classic outdoor meet Saturday.
Arn cleared 5 feet, 1 inches in the high jump, and threw the javelin 115-2.
Both of those marks met qualifying standards for the Northwest Conference outdoor meet.
Gordon, Bruins to play in D-III Final Four
Keisha Gordon and the George Fox University women’s basketball team are two wins away from their second undefeated NCAA Division III national championship in four years.
Gordon, a Heritage High School graduate, is the leading scorer in program history. The Bruins (31-0) face Amherst College (31-0) in the national semifinals at 2 p.m. Friday in Holland, Mich. St. Thomas (30-1) and Illinois Wesleyan (26-5) are in the other semifinal, with the championship game at 4 p.m. Saturday.
