SPOKANE, Wash. - The Whitworth men's tennis team showed solid improvement the second time around, but the Pirates were still swept in the season series against Linfield and Willamette over the weekend. Whitworth fell to 2-8 overall and 2-6 in the NWC this season.

Whitworth lost 7-2 at Linfield on Friday, an improvement over the 9-0 loss earlier this season at home. The Pirates were swept in the three doubles matches, but Ed Anegon and Scott Donnell fought hard before falling 9-8 (5) at #1 doubles. Anegon went on to win his #1 singles match 4-6, 6-3 (11-9) and Austin Abelar won 6-4, 6-2 at #6 singles.

Saturday's match at Willamette played out in a similar fashion. The Pirates lost 6-3, a better showing than the 7-2 loss early in the year. Anegon and Donnell won this time, gaining an 8-4 victory at #1 doubles. Donnell won his #3 singles match 7-5, 6-3 and Scott Bourne won 6-2, 6-4 at #4 singles. Kellen Oetgen lost a heartbreaking 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (9-7) decision at #5 singles.

The Pirates are now headed to Hilton Head, South Carolina for spring break. Whitworth will play Oberlin on Monday, March 26th, NCAA DII Missouri-St. Louis on March 28th and 25th-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater on March 29th.