SPOKANE, Wash. – The Whitworth University men's tennis team got its first official victories of the 2020 season in Tacoma over the weekend.  The Pirates won 9-0 at Puget Sound on Saturday then defeated Pacific Lutheran 6-3 on Sunday.

The Pirates are 2-4 heading into Saturday's home match against defending Northwest Conference champion Whitman in the conference opener.

Neither of the matches this weekend count as league contests, even though the opponents are NWC member schools.

Whitworth had little trouble with Puget Sound on Saturday.  The Bucs swept all three doubles matches and none of the singles contests went more than two sets.  Sean Singco defeated Paul Wallace 6-2, 6-1 at #1 singles, while Ethan Violette beat Aiden Velasco 6-2, 6-0 at #2 singles.  Jake Bethards and Kincaid Norris (6-1, 6-0) nearly posted shutouts in their wins at #3 and #5 singles, respectively.

Whitworth doubled up Pacific Lutheran 6-3 on Sunday.  The Bucs won two of three doubles matches and four out of the six singles contests.  Jake Bethards and Cameron Brewer dominated the #3 doubles contest 8-2.  Violette defeated Michael Campbell 6-2, 6-2 at #2 singles.  Ben Bethards won 6-3, 6-1 over Derek Stone at #4 singles.  Brewer topped Branson Near 6-3, 6-1 at #6.