SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth won twice at the top of the singles ladder, but visiting Whitman came away with a 7-2 victory in the Northwest Conference men's tennis opening match for both teams on Saturday afternoon at the Scotford Tennis Center.

The Pirates fell to 3-7 overall and 0-1 in the NWC while the Blues improved to 2-6, 1-0.

Whitman swept the doubles matches in convincing fashion.  The closest contest came at #1 doubles where Diego Guzman and Noah Baker defeated Whitworth's Payton Romey and Henry Preacher 8-3.

The Pirates fell behind 4-0 when Lucas Huang defeated Jess Weaver 6-1, 6-1 at #3 singles.  But Whitworth rallied to within 4-2 with two straight victories at the top.  Nathan Tjelle topped Whitman's Harshvardham Chopra 7-6 (3), 6-3 at #1 singles.  Then Romey rallied to defeat Guzman 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 at #2 singles.

Whitman got the match-clinching victory when Aidan Schutter beat Preacher 6-1, 6-4 at #4 singles.

The Pirates will return to action next weekend with matches at Linfield and Lewis & Clark.