Pirates Lead NWC Standings by Two Matches

Whitworth (8-2, 8-0 NWC) Defeated Willamette 7-2 Box score Defeated Lewis & Clark 6-3 Box score Defeated George Fox 7-0 Box score

Rachel Burns

SPOKANE, Wash. - Whitworth swept through three Northwest Conference road matches over the weekend, taking a major step toward repeating as Northwest Conference champions. With victories over Willamette, Lewis & Clark and George Fox, the Pirates (8-2 overall, 8-0 NWC) now has a two-match lead over the rest of the NWC at the halfway point of the conference schedule.

Whitworth handed Willamette its second NWC loss by a score of 7-2 on Friday night. Mya Towne and Erica Bosman combined to pull out a tough 8-6 win at #2 doubles. Towne then won 6-2, 6-0 at #3 singles, while Bosman won 6-0, 6-2 at #4 singles.

The Pirates won 6-3 at Lewis & Clark on Saturday morning, handing the Pioneers their second conference loss. Katie Staudinger and Megan Wingfield were especially tough. They won 8-5 at #3 doubles. Staudinger then won 6-4, 6-3 at #5 singles, while Wingfield defeated her opponent 7-5, 6-4 at #6 singles.

Whitworth completed the road sweep with a 7-0 win at George Fox. The Bruins only have five players, so do not compete in #3 doubles or #6 singles and the Pirates elected not to take the free points. Rachel Burns and Ali Marshall won 8-3 at #1 doubles. Burns then won 6-1, 6-2 at #1 singles, while Marshall took her #2 singles match by a score of 6-3, 6-2.

Towne, Bosman, Staudinger and Wingfield all went unbeaten in singles and doubles throughout the weekend.

Whitworth will travel to play at Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran next weekend.