SPOKANE, Wash. - After a year at fifth and another finishing fourth at the Northwest Conference tennis tournament, the Whitworth women's team is eyeing an opportunity to move up in 2007.

The Pirates return three full time and two part time singles starters from 2006, when the team finished with an overall record of 10-11 and an 8-8 mark in the NWC.

Linh Aven (So., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), who posted a 5-13 singles record last season, returns after a solid freshman year. She is expected to challenge for the #1 singles position this season, along with Rachel McCoola (Sr., Durango, Colo.). McCoola has made tremendous improvement since last season, according to Pirate head coach Jo Wagstaff, when she had a 9-7 record playing mostly on the lower half of the ladder.

Katie Troxell (Sr., Fort Collins, Colo.) and Betsy Johnson (Sr., Silverton, Ore.), a pair of team veterans, will likely play in the middle of the line up this season. Taryn Smith (Jr., Ellensburg, Wash.) and Justine Hays (So., Yakima, Wash.) will round out the top six positions.

Incoming freshmen Angela Anegon (Lewiston, Idaho) and Stephanie Reardon (Walla Walla, Wash.) will provide depth for both doubles and singles, and could see their playing time increase as the season progresses and each adapts to the college game.

Whitworth will open the season this weekend in Oregon, taking on Willamette on Friday afternoon and Linfield on Saturday morning. Saturday's match will give the Pirates a good early measurement of their status, as Linfield is the defending NWC champions.