Whitworth 9, at Willamette 0 (3/13/09) - complete box score SALEM and PORTLAND, Ore. - Whitworth took over sole possession of the Northwest Conference women's tennis standings by sweeping through a weekend Oregon trip that included a historical win over seven-time NWC champion Linfield.
On Sunday morning the Pirates (12-2 overall, 11-0 NWC) ended the Wildcats' 108-match NWC winning streak by sweeping the doubles and taking four of six singles matches in a 7-2 victory at the Courtside Athletic Club in Salem. Rachel Burns and Alli Marshall won 8-3 at #1 doubles and then Burns went on to earn a key 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 win over Sallie Katter at #1 singles. Linh Aven and Mya Towne won 8-1 at #2 doubles, handing Sarah Click and Abby Olbrich of Linfield their first NWC loss of the season. Katie Staudinger and Juntine Hays defeated Sarah Watanabe and Kiana Nip 8-3 at #3 doubles. In addition to Burns' win at No. 1 singles, Towne sent Nip to her first NWC singles defeat at No. 4, 6-0, 1-6, 6-2. Staudinger rallied from a set behind to win 3-6, 6-1, 10-6 over the Wildcats’ Watanabe at #6 singles. Staudinger improved to 12-0 in singles play this season. Linfield collected its points in the middle of the order, where Olbrich beat Marshall 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2, and Larson improved to 10-0 in conference singles action with a 6-4, 6-4 decision over Aven at No. 3. Whitworth's Erica Bosman won the other singles pairing, 7-5, 6-0, over the Wildcats’ Click at No. 5. Linfield's (9-3, 9-1) last NWC loss 109 matches again came against Whitworth in 2002. Whitworth defeated Lewis & Clark for the second time this season on Saturday. The Bucs handed the Pioneers a 7-2 loss at the L&C Bubble. Towne and Aven won 8-2 at #2 doubles, while Bosman and Staudinger won 8-1 at #3 doubles. Three of the four went on to win singles matches. Aven won 6-2, 6-1 over Paige Earhart at #3, while Towne defeated Jill Coleman 6-1, 6-2 at #4. Bosman beat Clio Beatty 6-2, 6-0 at #5. On Friday the Pirates had little trouble sweeping the season series with Willamette, shutting out the Bearcats 9-0 at the Courthouse Tennis Club in Salem. Burns and Marshall won 8-3 at #1 doubles, Aven and Towne won 8-1 at #2 doubles and Staudinger and Justine Hays won 8-3 at #3 doubles. Whitworth won all six singles matches in straight sets. Whitworth will travel to Hilton Head, South Carolina next week for four matches over spring break. On Monday the Pirates will take on NWC-member George Fox in a conference-counting contest, followed by a match with Colby (Maine). On Wednesday Whitworth will play Principia (Ill.) and Erskine (S.C.). |
