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

WALLA WALLA, WASH. -- Whitman College downed Willamette University, 7-2, on Saturday, Feb. 14, in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match. With the win, the Missionaries upped their record to 2-0 overall, 2-0 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 0-3 on the season, 0-2 in the NWC. The Bearcats earned victories at #1 doubles and #6 singles.

At #1 doubles, WU's team of Shannon Palmer (Fr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) and Abby Funabiki (Sr., Pullman, WA/Pullmans HS) held off Divneet Kaur and Katie Oost. Palmer and Funabiki led 5-2, before Kaur and Oost rallied to force a tie-breaker. Palmer and Funabiki were victorious in the tie-breaker 7-5 to win the match, 9-8.

The #6 singles match was a close two-set battle. Samantha Wong (Jr., Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) of Willamette edged out Alex Robinson of Whitman in two tie-breakers. Wong prevailed 7-6 (11-9), 7-6 (7-1).

Whitman won two of the three doubles matches. At #2 doubles, the Missionaries received a victory from Hadlee DeBree and Margo Lentz, who defeated Alyssa Morrison and Kristen Dedijer-Small, 8-1. Whitman's team of Emily Rolston and Charlotte Scott downed Fabi Dieguez and Annika Moffett at #3 doubles, 8-5.

The Missionaries secured the overall win by defeating the Bearcats at the top five singles positions. The only match to go beyond two sets was #5 singles, where Rolston slipped past Dieguez in a super tie-breaker, 6-2, 6-7 (4-7), 10-5.

Willamette will play its next three matches at home, with all three scheduled for the Courthouse Tennis Club in Salem, Ore. WU will host the University of Puget Sound on Friday, Feb. 20, before facing Linfield College on Thursday, Feb. 26 and taking on Pacific University on Friday, Feb. 27. All three matches are slated to begin at 12 p.m. (PST).

Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009
At Bratton Tennis Center, Walla Walla, Wash.

Singles
#1 - Elise Otto (WTMN) defeated Shannon Palmer (WU), 6-3, 6-2
#2 - Hadlee DeBree (WTMN) defeated Alyssa Morrison (WU), 6-3, 6-2
#3 - Divneet Kaur (WTMN) defeated Kristen Dedijer-Small (WU), 6-2, 6-1
#4 - Katie Oost (WTMN) defeated Abby Funabiki (WU), 6-1, 6-1
#5 - Emily Rolston (WTMN) defeated Fabi Dieguez (WU), 6-2, 6-7 (4-7), 10-5*
#6 - Samantha Wong (WU) defeated Alex Robinson (WTMN), 7-6 (11-9), 7-6 (7-1)

Doubles
#1 - Palmer and Funabiki (WU) defeated Kaur and Oost (WTMN), 9-8 (7-5)
#2 - DeBree and Margo Lentz (WTMN) defeated Morrison and Dedijer-Small (WU), 8-1
#3 - Rolston and Charlotte Scott (WTMN) defeated Dieguez and Annika Moffett (WU), 8-5

* Tie-breaker played instead of a third set

Records:
Whitman College is 2-0 overall, 2-0 in the NWC. Willamette is 0-3 overall, 0-2 in the NWC.