SALEM, ORE. -- Whitworth University won a pair of tight battles in singles and claimed a narrow victory at #1 doubles, as the Pirates turned a close match into an 8-1 victory over Willamette University on Sunday, Feb. 24 at the Courthouse Tennis Club. Whitworth upped its record to 4-2 overall, 4-1 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette dropped to 0-5 overall, 0-4 in the NWC.
The Pirates claimed a very narrow win at #1 singles, when Rachel Burns slipped past Tiffany Kam in two tie-breakers, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-2). Whitworth also claimed a competitive match at #6 singles, as Angela Anegon edged WU's Jamie Slonaker, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4). In doubles, Lexy Harrington and Linh Aven of Whitworth outlasted Kam and Alaine Anderson (Sr., Santa Ana, CA/Foothills HS), 8-6.
Willamette's only win also came in a closely contested match. Emily Elliott earned the win for the Bearcats by downing Stephanie Reardon 7-6 in the first set -- winning the tie-breaker 7-5 -- then outscoring Reardon 7-5 in the second set.
The Bearcats will return to action with a pair of NWC road matches next weekend. Willamette will play at George Fox University in Newberg, Ore., on Friday, Feb. 29 at 2 p.m. (PST). The 'Cats are scheduled to take on Lewis & Clark College on Saturday, March 1 in Portland, Ore., starting at 10 a.m. (PST).
Sunday, Feb. 24
At Courthouse Tennis Club, Salem, Ore.
Whitworth University 8, Willamette University 1
Singles
#1 - Rachel Burns (WHTW) defeated Tiffany Kam (WU), 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-2)
#2 - Lexy Harrington (WHTW) defeated Alaine Anderson (WU), 6-2, 6-2
#3 - Linh Aven (WHTW) defeated Alyssa Morrison (WU), 6-1, 6-2
#4 - Katie Staudinger (WHTW) defeated Abby Funabiki (WU), 6-0, 6-4
#5 - Emily Elliott (WU) defeated Stephanie Reardon (WHTW), 7-6 (7-5), 7-5
#6 - Angela Anegon (WHTW) defeated Jamie Slonaker (WU), 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
Doubles
#1 - Harrington and Aven (WHTW) defeated Kam and Anderson (WU), 8-6
#2 - Staudinger and Justine Hays (WHTW) defeated Morrison and Funabiki (WU), 8-4
#3 - Burns and Anegon (WHTW) defeated Slonaker and Wong (WU) 8-1
Records: Whitworth is 4-2 overall, 4-1 in the NWC; Willamette is 0-5 overall, 0-4 in the NWC
Emily Elliott won #5 singles over Stephanie Reardon, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5.
