WALLA WALLA, WASH. -- Whitman College defeated Willamette University, 8-1, in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match on Saturday, April 7 at the Whitman Outdoor Courts. Whitman, ranked #10 in the West Region of NCAA Division III, improved to 13-4 overall, 8-2 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 6-8 overall, 4-6 in the NWC.
Due to illness involving two of Willamette's players, the Bearcats had to default at #5 and #6 singles as well as at #3 doubles.
Willamette's lone win was at #4 singles, as Emily Funabiki (So., Pullman, WA/Pullman HS) defeated Erin Minuth of the Missionaries in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, 2-6, 6-2, 10-4.
The Missionaries jumped out to a 3-0 lead, including wins on the court at #1 and #2 doubles. In #1 doubles, Courtney Lawless and Morgan Lawless downed Shannon Palmer (Sr., Salem, OR/Sprague HS) and Sabrina Gutierrez (So., Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS), 8-2. At #2 doubles, Hannah Palkowitz and Emily Rolston outscored Emily Bee (Sr., Portland, OR/Lincoln HS) and Funabiki, 8-4.
Two of the singles matches were decided in super tie-breakers after the first two sets were split. Funabiki's win at #4 singles was one such match. The other occurred at #2 singles, as Morgan Lawless of Whitman rallied past Gutierrez of Willamette, 4-6, 6-0, 10-5.
A close match also was played at #3 singles, where Lizzy Schiller of Whitman held off Bee by narrow margins in each set, 7-5, 6-4.
The Bearcats will take on George Fox University on Tuesday, April 10 in Newberg, Ore. Match time is set for 4 p.m. (PDT).
Emily Funabiki from Willamette won #4 singles over Erin Minuth of Whitman.
