SPOKANE, Wash. - The Whitworth men's tennis team will host the most challenging homestand of the 2007 this weekend when the Pirates take on Puget Sound, Whitman and Pacific Lutheran. Both Whitman and PLU and nationally ranked teams this weekend. The Bucs will host the Loggers on Friday afternoon, take on the Missionaries on Saturday morning and the Lutes on Saturday afternoon at North Park RC.

Whitworth (1-6, 1-4) lost a heartbreaker at Lewis & Clark last Friday by a score of 5-4. The Pirates won two of the three doubles matches to get off to a good start, but then fell in four of the six singles contests. Freshman Kellen Oetgen continued to play well for the Bucs, winning his #6 singles match zero and zero after teaming with fellow frosh Austin Abelar to win 8-4 at #3 doubles.

But Whitworth was able to win its first team match of 2007 the following day when the Pirates beat George Fox 7-2 at the same L&C courts from the previous day. Ed Anegon picked up his first win of the season at #1 singles (6-3, 6-4) after he and Scott Donnell won 8-3 at #1 doubles. In fact, the Bucs swept all six of the singles matches. Both Donnell (6-4, 6-1 at #3) and Michael Carlson (6-1, 6-1 at #2) earned their first singles wins of 2007 also.