By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Whitworth University won a close match at #3 doubles to take a 3-0 lead and the Pirates went on to defeat Willamette University, 8-1, in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match on Sunday, April 7. The Pirates upped their record to 8-5 on the season, including 4-1 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 3-7 overall, 1-3 in the NWC.

Whitworth's team of Madelyn Parkey and Kyndal Locati were victorious at #3 doubles against Siena Ginsburg (So., Bend, OR/Summit HS) and Hannah Andres (Sr., Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) of Willamette, 8-6.

At #1 doubles, Erica Lee and Emma Joe Wiley won for the Pirates, 8-3, over Sarah Dean (So., Boise, ID/Timberline HS) and Robin Pashek (So., The Dalles, OR/The Dalles-Wahtonka HS). In the #2 doubles match, Avry Liening and Jill Hughes of Whitworth downed Sylvia Marr (So., Grants Pass, OR/Hidden Valley HS) and Alexis Gjurasic (Sr., Olympia, WA/Capital HS), 8-3.

Siena Ginsburg (So., Bend, OR/Summit HS) won for the Bearcats at #3 singles in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set. Ginsburg took the first set, 6-2, but Wiley won the second set, 6-4. Ginsburg prevailed in the super tie-breaker 10-6.

Whitworth's Marissa Kirk triumphed at #5 singles against Gjurasic by holding on for a 6-4 win the first set and then taking the second set 6-1. Lee of Whitworth defeated Dean at #1 singles, 6-2, 6-1. Also winning for the Pirates in singles matches were Liening at #2, Hughes at #4, and Parkey at #6.

The Bearcats will host George Fox University at the WU Tennis Courts on Saturday, April 13. Match time is scheduled for 11 a.m. (PDT).

Big Moment of the Match for Willamette

Siena Ginsburg was victorious at #3 singles, as she defeated
Emma Jo Wiley of Whitworth in a super tie-breaker played
instead of a third set, 6-2, 4-6, 10-6.