YAKIMA, Wash. - Whitworth University has advanced to the Northwest Conference women's tennis tournament championship match with a 5-4 semifinal victory over Pacific Lutheran University on Friday afternoon at the Yakima Tennis Club. The Pirates (17-4) will take on Linfield College for the conference title.

Staudinger won at #4 singles and #3 doubles

Click here for match box score.

The Pirates (17-4) took a 2-1 lead after doubles play and that extra point proved crucial. Justine Hays and Rachel Burns won 8-4 at #2 doubles, while Katie Staudinger and Taryn Smith rolled to an 8-0 win at #3 doubles.

Things got shaky for the Pirates when they dropped the top three singles matche, two of which went more than two sets. Lexy Harrington dropped a hard-fought 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-2) decision at #2 singles and Linh Aven was nipped at #3 singles by a score of 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-6).

But as it has all season, the bottom half of the Whitworth singles ladder was very strong. Staudinger won 6-3, 6-3 at #4, Hays won 6-2, 6-2 at #5 and Smith won 6-1, 6-2 at #6.

The Pirates hope to end Linfield's streak of six straight NWC titles. The Wildcats edged Whitworth twice this season - 6-3 in McMinnville and 5-4 in Spokane.