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

SALEM, ORE. -- Whitworth University remained in first place in the Northwest Conference with a 7-2 victory over Willamette University in women's tennis action on Friday, March 5 at the WU Tennis Courts. Whitworth upped its record to 6-2 on the season, 6-0 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 6-2 overall, 6-2 in the NWC.

The Pirates continue to have the only undefeated record in the NWC. Lewis & Clark College currently holds second place in the standings at 4-1. Willamette and Linfield (6-2) are tied for third place.

Willamette recorded its two wins at the top singles and top doubles positions. At #1 singles, Natalia Agarycheva (Jr., Vancouver, WA/Prairie HS/U. of Northern Colorado) defeated Rachel Burns of Whitworth, 6-1, 6-3. Agarycheva was ranked #9 in the West Region and Burns was ranked #17, in the ITA fall rankings.

At #1 doubles, the WU team of Agarycheva and Shannon Palmer (So., Salem, OR/Sprague HS), ranked #6 in the West Region in the fall rankings, downed Burns and Alli Marshall, 8-3. Burns and Marshall were ranked #14 in the West Region in doubles.

Whitworth claimed a close victory at #2 doubles and won five singles matches. In the #2 doubles match, Erica Bosman and Mya Towne won for the Pirates over Alyssa Morrison (Sr., Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS) and Fabi Dieguez (So., Salem, OR/Sprague HS/Oregon State Univ.), 8-6.

All of Whitworth's triumphs in singles were earned in straight sets. Even so, Katie Staudinger needed a tie-breaker in the first set before she defeated Willamette's Jamie Slonaker (Jr., Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS), 7-6 (7-2), 6-3.

The Bearcats will remain at home on Saturday, March 6, when they will host Whitman College. Match time at the WU Tennis Courts is set for 11 a.m. (PST). If weather forces the match indoors it will start at 11:30 a.m. at the Courthouse Tennis Club at 1379 Madison NE in Salem, Ore.

Friday, March 5
At WU Tennis Courts, Salem, Ore.

Whitworth University 7, Willamette University 2

Singles
#1 - Natalia Agarycheva (WU) defeated Rachel Burns (WHTW), 6-1, 6-3
#2 - Alli Marshall (WHTW) defeated Shannon Palmer (WU), 6-2, 6-3
#3 - Mya Towne (WHTW) defeated Alyssa Morrison (WU), 6-2, 6-0
#4 - Erica Bosman (WHTW) defeated Fabi Dieguez (WU), 6-0, 6-2
#5 - Katie Staudinger (WHTW) defeated Jamie Slonaker (WU), 7-6 (7-2), 6-3
#6 - Megan Wingfield (WHTW) defeated Emily Bee (WU), 6-0, 6-3

Doubles
#1 - Agarycheva and Palmer (WU) defeated Burns and Marshall (WHTW), 8-3
#2 - Bosman and Towne (WHTW) defeated Morrison and Dieguez (WU), 8-6
#3 - Staudinger and Wingfield (WHTW) defeated Slonaker and Bee (WU), 8-2

Records:
Whitworth University is 6-2 overall, 6-0 NWC. Willamette University is 6-2 overall, 6-2 NWC