TACOMA, Wash. – Whitworth University dropped a key Northwest Conference women's tennis match on Saturday at the University of Puget Sound by a score of 7-2.

The Pirates fall to 8-6 overall and 4-2 in the NWC while the Loggers improve to 8-5, 5-1 and move ahead of Whitworth in the league standings.  The Bucs will conclude their trip west with an exhibition match at Bellevue College on Sunday.

Whitworth grabbed a 1-0 lead when Avery Liening and Jill Hughes rolled to an 8-1 win at #2 doubles over Bridget Myers and Barclay Fagg. But the Loggers got the next two doubles points in tight contests, winning 8-5 at #1 and 8-7 (7-4) at #3.

Puget Sound grabbed a 4-1 lead when Lisa Owen beat Erica Lee 7-5, 6-4 at #1 singles and Nicki Bouche defeated Liening 6-2, 6-1 at #2 singles.  Madelyn Parkey kept Whitworth's hopes alive with a 6-4, 6-1 win at #6 singles, pulling the Bucs within 4-2.

Fagg clinched the team win for UPS with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Hughes at #4 singles.  The Loggers went on to win at #5 and #3 as well, both of which went to a third set.