SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth defeated visiting Puget Sound 6-3 on Saturday, likely clinching a spot in the upcoming Northwest Conference women's tennis tournament.

The Pirates improved to 6-8 overall and 4-3 in the NWC while the Loggers fell to 4-5, 3-3.  If the teams end up tied in the NWC standings, Whitworth will claim the fourth and final spot in the conference tournament based on the head-to-head victory.

The Bucs jumped to a 3-0 lead with a sweep of the doubles.  Jennifer Adams and Katie Lacayo ran away with an 8-1 win at #3 doubles to get Whitworth on the board.  Erica Lee and Emma Jo Wiley won 8-5 at #1 over Nicole Bouche and Lisa Owen.  Marissa Kirk and Avery Liening pulled out a 9-7 win over Tresa Bild and Bridget Myers at #2 to complete the doubles sweep.

Adams and Wiley quickly clinched the team victory for the Pirates with singles victories.  Adams defeated Bouche  6-2, 6-1 at #3, while Wiley topped Myers 6-2, 6-3 at #2 for an insurmountable 5-0 victory.

Lacayo picked up Whitworth's final point with a 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-3) win over Fitzgerald at #5 singles.

Whitworth will host Pacific Lutheran on Sunday at 10:00 am.  It is officially a non-conference match.