Whitworth College pushed NWC-leading Linfield to one of its toughest matches of the season on Friday night before rolling to a 9-0 win over Pacific on Saturday morning. The Pirates are now 8-5 overall and 7-4 in the NWC with the split. While Whitworth fell to Linfield by a team score of 7-2, there were several matches that could have gone either way. Linfield swept the doubles matches, but Whitworth made the Wildcats work for their points at first and second doubles. Jamie Kneese and Taryn Smith won 8-5 at first doubles. while Linh Aven and Katie Troxell matched the score before losing in the second doubles contest. Sandy Fujitani did remain unbeaten, winning 6-4, 6-4 at #5 singles, while Rachael McCoola won the #6 singles match 6-3, 6-4. Aven lost a hard-fought match 7-6, 6-3 at #1 singles, while Betsy Johnson lost 3-6, 6-4, 10-4 at #4 singles. Linfield improved to 11-0 in the NWC. The Pirates rebounded to take an easy 9-0 win against Pacific on Saturday. Vaughn and Chelsea Sweetin won 8-2 at first doubles, while Betsy Johnson and McCoola won 8-1 at second doubles. Kneese won handily (6-0, 6-2) at #1 singles, while Aven took care of her opponent after a hard fought 7-5, 6-3 contest. Leah Vaughn won by an identical 7-5, 6-3 score at #3 singles, while Fujitani completely blanked her opponent (0 and 0) at #4 singles. McCoola (#5) and Troxell (#6) each won in straight sets in singles play. Whitworth will return to the road next weekend at Puget Sound (Friday) and Pacific Lutheran (Saturday). The Pirates were defeated by both opponents in hard fought matches at home last month. |
