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

YAKIMA, WASH. -- Whitman College defeated Willamette University, 8-1, in a first round match at the Northwest Conference Women's Tennis Tournament on Friday, April 17 at the Yakima Tennis Center. Whitman upped its record to 14-8, while Willamette fell to 8-12.

The Missionaries, seeded #3, are taking on Linfield College, seeded #2, in the NWC Semifinals on Friday. Willamette, seeded #6, will face Lewis & Clark College, the #4 seed, in the fifth place match on Saturday, April 18 at 8 a.m. (PDT). The NWC Tournament will conclude on Saturday.

Whitman built a 3-0 lead by winning all three doubles matches. At #1 doubles, Elise Otto and Katie Oost defeated Shannon Palmer (Fr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) and Jamie Slonaker (So., Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS), 8-3.

The #2 doubles match was closely contested. Divneet Kaur and Margo Lentz of Whitman outscored Alyssa Morrison (Jr., Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS) and Abby Funabiki (Sr., Pullman, WA/Pullman HS/Qunnipiac Univ.) of Willamette, 8-6.

Leading Whitman in singles was Otto, who downed Palmer at the #1 position, 6-1, 7-5. At #2 singles, Hadley DeBree of Whitman defeated Morrison, 6-2, 6-2. Willamette's lone victory was recorded by Kristen Dedijer-Small (Dallas, OR/Oaks Christian HS/Chemeketa CC) at #6 singles, as she defeated Amanda Alexander in a pro set, 8-6.

For more information about the NWC Tournament, go to the NWC Tournament website.

Friday, April 17, 2009
At Yakima Tennis Center, Yakima, Wash.

Whitman College 8, Willamette University 1

Singles
#1 - Elise Otto (WTMN) defeated Shannon Palmer (WU), 6-1, 7-5
#2 - Hadley DeBree (WTMN) defeated Alyssa Morrison (WU), 6-2, 6-1
#3 - Katie Oost (WTMN) defeated Abby Funabiki (WU), 6-4, 6-0
#4 - Divneet Kaur (WTMN) defeated Fabi Dieguez (WU), 6-2, 6-0
#5 - Emily Rolston (WTMN) defeated Jamie Slonaker (WU), 8-5
#6 - Kristen Dedijer-Small (WU) defeated Amanda Alexander (WTMN), 8-6

Doubles
#1 - Otto and Oost (WTMN) defeated Palmer and Slonaker (WU), 8-3
#2 - Divneet and Margo Lentz (WTMN) defeated Morrison and Funabiki (WU), 8-6
#3 - DeBree and Rolston (WTMN) defeated Dieguez and Annika Moffett (WU), 8-2

Records:
Whitman College is 14-8 overall. Willamette University is 8-12 overall.