By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SPOKANE, WASH. -- Willamette University opened its 2009 Northwest Conference women's tennis schedule with an 8-1 loss against Whitworth University on Friday, Feb. 13. Willamette is 0-2 on the season and 0-1 in the NWC. Whitworth is 2-2 overall, 1-0 in the NWC. The Bearcats will play at Whitman College on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 11 a.m. (PST).

Samantha Wong (Jr., Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) recorded Willamette's lone victory at #6 singles. She defeated Stephanie Reardon, 3-6, 6-4, 10-6, as she prevailed in a tie-breaker after splitting the opening sets.

The Pirates achieved a sweep in doubles. Lihn Aven and Alli Marshal won the #1 doubles match over WU's Shannon Palmer (Fr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) and Abby Funabiki (Sr., Pullman, WA/Pullman HS/Quinnipiac Univ.), 8-3.

Aven and Palmer also met at #1 singles and split the first two sets. Palmer took the opening set, 6-4, while Aven rallied with a 7-5 victory in the second set. In the tie-breaker used to determine the winner, Aven outscored Palmer, 10-5.

Willamette will remain on the road to take on Whitman College on Saturday, Feb. 14 in Walla Walla, Wash. Match time is set for 11 a.m. (PST).

Friday, Feb. 13, 2009
At Scotford Tennis Center, Spokane, Wash..

Singles
#1 - Linh Aven (WHTW) defeated Shannon Palmer (WU), 4-6, 7-5, 10-5*
#2 - Alli Marshall (WHTW) defeated Kristen Dedijer-Small (WU), 6-0, 6-1
#3 - Erica Bosman (WHTW) defeated Alyssa Morrison (WU), 6-2, 6-1
#4 - Justine Hays (WHTW) defeated Abby Funabiki (WU), 6-3, 6-3
#5 - Katie Staudinger (WHTW) defeated Fabi Dieguez (WU), 6-0, 6-1
#6 - Samantha Wong (WU) defeated Stephanie Reardon (WHTW), 3-6, 6-4, 10-6*

Doubles
#1 - Aven and Marshall (WHTW) defeated Palmer and Funabiki (WU), 8-3
#2 - Hays and Staudinger (WHTW) defeated Dedijer-Small and Morrison (WU), 8-1
#3 - Bosman and Mya Towne (WHTW) defeated Dieguez and Wong (WU), 8-3

* Tie-breaker played instead of a third set

Records:
Whitworth University is 2-2 overall, 1-0 in the NWC. Willamette is 0-2 overall, 0-1 in the NWC.