SALEM, Ore. – Whitworth rolled to an 8-1 win at Willamette in the Pirates' Northwest Conference opener in women's tennis on Friday night. 

The Bucs improved to 2-3 overall and 1-0 in the NWC while the Bearcats dropped to 3-3, 0-2.

Whitworth swept through the doubles matches, but worked hard to win at first and third doubles.  Erica Lee and Emma Jo Wiley pulled out an 8-6 win over Mikaila Smith and Robin Pashek at #1 doubles.  Jennifer Adams and Katie Lacayo won by the same score over Siena Ginsburg and Alexis Gjurasic at #3 doubles.  Marissa Kirk and Avery Liening had a much easier time at #2, beating Saran Dean and Sylvia Marr 8-2.

Whitworth quickly clinched the team victory with singles wins at #4 and #2.  Liening defeated Marr 6-1, 6-1 at #4, while Wiley topped Pashek 6-4, 6-1 at #2, which gave the Pirates an insurmountable 5-0 lead.

Adams followed with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Dean at #3 and Sandquist got past Hannah Andres 6-3, 6-0 at #5 for a 7-0 lead. 

Willamette got its point when Smith pulled out a 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over Lee at #1 singles.  Lacayo closed out the match with Whitworth's final win, beating Rachel Kong 6-2, 6-2 at #6.

Whitworth will continue its NWC-opening trip to Oregon with a contest at Pacific (Ore.) on Saturday morning.