YAKIMA, Wash. - For the third time in the last five seasons, Whitworth finished fourth in the Northwest Conference men's tennis tournament by knockin off fourth seeded Puget Sound in the first round of the event. The Pirates went on to play hard, but fall to eventual champion Pacific Lutheran in the semifinals and Linfield in the third place match. After losing twice to Puget Sound by scores of 6-1 and 4-3 this season, Whitworth played its best match of 2006 to hand the Loggers a 5-2 defeat in the match-up of fourth and fifth seeded teams. In a switch from the normal routine, singles was played first and the Bucs won four of the matches to clinch the team victory. Ben Works won 7-5, 6-3 at #2, while Michael Carlson pulled out a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 win at #3. Jeremiah Collins won 6-2, 6-4 at #5 singles, while Colin Storm stormed back from a 6-0 loss in the first set to win 0-6, 6-4, 7-6 at #6 singles. Works and Ed Anegon won 8-4 at first doubles and Carlson and Scott Bourne won 8-5 at second doubles for the final point of the match. Eventual champion PLU defeated Whitworth 7-0 in the semifinals. Anegon and Works played well at first doubles before losing 8-4. Collins fought hard at #5 singles, but lost 6-4, 6-2. Linfield beat Whitworth 7-0 in the third place match. Carlson fell 6-3, 2-6, (10-7) at #3 singles in the only match to go to a tiebreaker. Anegon and Works each played well, but lost by identical 6-3, 6-2 scores at #1 and #2 singles, respectively. The Pirates finished 9-11 overall and fourth in the NWC, despite graduating the top three singles players from last season and dealing with several key injuries throughout the year. The future looks good for the Pirates with at least five of the regular six starters returning in 2007. |
