SPOKANE, Wash. – League-leading and defending Northwest Conference champion Linfield kept Whitworth in control in a 9-0 women's tennis victory over the Pirates on Sunday.

The Wildcats improved to 10-2 overall and 6-0 in the NWC while the Pirates fell to 6-7, 4-2.  Whitworth can clinch third place in the NWC standings with wins at Willamette and Pacific (Ore.) next weekend.

Linfield built its momentum by pulling out a pair of close doubles matches.  Aleah Kert and Hannah Plank pushed their Wildcat opponents to an 8-6 decision at #1 doubles.  Similarly, Kyndal Locati and Gracie Smyley lost by one break (8-5) at #2 doubles to Taryn Fujimori and Maggie Fiocchi.  Jill Hughes and Grace Bethards lost 8-4 at #3 doubles.

Half of the singles matches went more than one set.  Sarah Forester held off Smyley 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 at #3 singles to clinch the team victory for Linfield.  Fujimori edged Kert 7-6 (1), 4-6, 1-0 (10-5) at #1 singles.  Fiocchi topped Hughes 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (13-11) at #5 singles.