YAKIMA, Wash. - Whitworth College finished one spot higher than seeded this weekend as the Pirate women took fourth place at the 2005 Northwest Conference women's tennis tournament. The fifth-seeded Bucs knocked off fourth seeded Whitman 6-1 on Friday. After losing 9-0 to eventual champion Linfield in the semifinal, Whitworth dropped a hard-fought 6-3 decision to Puget Sound in the third place match. The Pirates pulled it all together in the first round against Whitman. After dropping a pair of matches to the Missionaries at home the weekend before, Whitworth swept to the 6-1 win. The Bucs won two of three doubles matches to get off to a good start. Jamie Kneese and Chelsea Sweetin won 8-4 at first doubles, while Linh Aven and Katie Troxell won 8-4 at second doubles. The the Pirates won four straight singles matches to clinch the win. The fifth and sixth singles matches were not finished after the team match was decided. Kneese pulled out a 7-6 (3), 2-6, 7-6 (9) win at #1, while Aven won 6-4, 6-4 at #2. Taryn Smith won 6-3, 6-3 at #3 and Sweeting came from behind to win 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (10) in the clincher at #4. The Pirates were not able to win a match against the talented Wildcats in the semifinals. Kneese and Sweetin lost a close 8-5 decision at first doubles. In the third place match, Whitworth took two of three doubles matches for the second time this weekend. Aven and Troxell won 8-3 at second doubles, while Rachael McCoola and Leah Vaughn won 8-1 at third doubles. But the Bucs could only win one singles match at fell 6-3. Sandy Fujitani won 6-1, 6-0 at #6 singles, her 10th individual victory of the season. Aven went three sets once again before falling 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 at #2. Whitworth finished the season with a record of 10-11. With only one senior (Fujitani) on the roster, and three freshmen (Kneese, Aven and Sweetin) playing significant roles this year, the future is certainly bright for the Pirates. |
