
McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield rolled to a 7-2 win over visiting Whitworth in a showdown for first place in the Northwest Conference women's tennis standings on Saturday afternoon.
The Wildcats improved to 9-0 overall and 9-0 in the NWC. The Pirates fell to 7-2, 6-1 and saw a seven-match winning streak come to an end.
Linfield took a 3-0 lead by sweeping the doubles matches. Megan Wingfield and Claire Hemming had Whitworth's best chance of winning a doubles match, but the Pirate pair fell to Kelly Watanabe and Lexi Thomas 8-5 at #3 doubles. The Wildcat pair of Abby Olbrich and Caroline Brigham rolled to an 8-1 win over Alli Marshall and Erica Bosman at #1 doubles. Kaila and Kiana Nip defeated Saryn Mooney and Jessi Steele 8-3 at #2 doubles.
Linfield swept the top three singles matches as well. Olbrich defeated Marshall 6-3, 6-4 at #1, while Brigham topped Bosman 6-4, 6-2 at #2. Kaila Nip held off Mooney 6-0, 6-4 at #3.
Whitworth got its two points when Steele beat Thomas 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-5) at #4 and Hemming edged Watanabe 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 1-0 (10-5) at #6 singles.
Kiana Nip scored Linfield's final point when she blanked Wingfield 6-0, 6-0 at #5.
Whitworth will quickly head to Orlando, Florida for spring break. The Pirates will play three non-conference matches against NCAA Division III opponents.