FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Whitworth University won its fifth straight women's tennis match and moved into a tie for second place in the Northwest Conference standings with a 6-3 win at Pacific (Ore.) on Saturday.

The Pirates improve to 7-5 overall and 5-2 in the NWC, now tied with George Fox.  Pacific fell to 4-5, 3-4.  The teams will play a second, non-conference, match on Sunday morning.

Whitworth jumped to a 2-1 lead after doubles.  Lauren Ikeda and Hannah Plank shut out Jessica Eligio and Kendall Taomoto 8-0 at #2 doubles, while Froukje Lakerveld and Kyndal Locati won 8-3 at #3 doubles.  Avery Liening and Aleah Kert lost by a single break at #1 doubles, 8-5.

Plank made the score 3-1 with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Eligio at #3 singles, but Cassidy Binder topped Liening 6-0, 6-1 at #1 and Syndie Binder beat Kert 6-3, 6-0 at #2 singles to tie up the contest.

Ikeda rolled past Kailei Eustis 6-0, 6-0 at #4 singles to regain momentum and Lakerveld clinched the team win with a 6-0, 6-1 victory at #6 singles over Gilliam Mead.  Locati went to a pro-set 10-2 win, to finish off the Pirates' day.