Whitman Intercollegiate Tournament
Friday-Sunday, September 24-26
Walla Walla, Wash.

With senior co-captain Amy Fong playing with a very sore back, the Whitman women's tennis team did not fare as well as it had hoped in the Whitman Intercollegiate tennis tournament, which ran Friday through Sunday, Sept. 24-26.

Fong (Spokane WA, Mead HS) and doubles partner Leslie Whitten, the No. 1 seed in the women's doubles draw, dropped an 8-4 decision in the quarterfinals to Kristen Kobata and Jessie Wolfe of Linfield College, the No. 6 seed. Fong did not enter the singles competition because of her back troubles, which also limited her mobility in doubles.

"Although Amy served very well in doubles, her movement was almost non-existent," Whitman coach Jayne McCarthy said.

Whitten (Spokane WA, University HS), Whitman's other senior co-captain, also lost in the quarterfinals of the singles bracket. The No. 1 seed, Whitten fell to the No. 5 seed, Christine Dickson of Lewis-Clark State College (LCSC), who eventually captured the tournament's singles title.

Two other Whitman players, sophomore Sarah McKinstry and freshman Ashley Trout, enjoyed some early success in the singles bracket.

McKinstry (Seattle WA, Lakeside School) knocked off Willamette University's Tamako Hara, the No. 8 seed, in the opening round, 6-2, 6-2. McKinstry then lost to LCSC's Sanet Nel, the No. 9 seed, who later advanced as far as the semifinals.

"Sarah played a lot this past summer, including a lot of tournaments, and the improvement in her game is very apparent," McCarthy said.

McKinstry also teamed with sophomore Monica Hilmer (Medford OR, St. Mary's School) to win their first match, eliminating the No. 7 seed, Kirstin Rorvik and Heidi Ruud of Pacific Lutheran, by an 8-4 score. Hilmer and McKinstry then lost in the quarterfinals to the tournament's No. 2 seed and eventual tournament champion.

"I was very impressed with Sarah and Monica as a doubles team," McCarthy said. "They will add a lot to our team next spring."

Trout, a Whitman freshman from Georgetown Day School in Washington, D.C., won her first singles match, notching a 6-2, 6-4 decision over Linfield's Kobata. "That was a very good first win for Ashley," McCarthy said. "It was encouraging to see the talent she displayed. She will definitely give us more quality depth next spring. Unfortunately, Ashley had to play (Leslie Whitten) in the a swirling dust storm in the second round, and she lost."

Assuming that everyone is healthy and two players return as planned from study abroad semesters in Europe, the Whitman women's team should be "both strong and deep" when it starts Northwest Conference play next spring, McCarthy said.

NCAA III West Region Fall Tournament
Friday-Sunday, October 8-10
Claremont, California

Seniors Amy Fong (Spokane WA, Mead HS) and Leslie Whitten (Spokane WA, University HS), Whitman doubles partners for the past four years, came within a single set of winning the consolation finals title at the annual fall tournament for players in the west region of NCAA Division III. The tournament was held Friday through Sunday, Oct. 8-10, in Claremont, Calif.

Fong and Whitten, seeded No. 3 in the tournament's 32-team doubles bracket, lost a tough three-set decision in the opening round to Mariana Madico and Jessica Wilgus of Whittier College. The scores were 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Dropping into the consolation bracket, Fong and Whitten then knocked off teams from Cal Lutheran and the University of California-Santa Cruz. In the consolation finals, however, they lost another three-setter to Chapman's Mari Matsumota and Karen Vigen. The scores were 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

Whitten, who was seeded No. 4 in the singles bracket, took a first-round bye and then lost 6-2, 6-0 in the second round to Amanda Browne of Trinity University (San Antonio, Texas). Players from Trinity dominated both singles and doubles play in the tournament. Whitten also lost her first-round match in the consolation singles bracket, falling 6-1, 6-4 to Becky Jones of the University of California-San Diego.

Fong had better luck in the singles competition, posting a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 first-round victory over Jenny McDonald of Hardin-Simmons University (Abilene, Texas). In the second round, however, Fong dropped a 6-1, 6-3 decision to Abbe Ulrich, one of Trinity's seeded players, and then exited the consolation finals with a 6-2, 7-6 loss to Kelli Tsai of UC-San Diego.

The tournament was the last competition for Whitman's top tennis players until the regular spring season begins next February.

Whitman coach Jayne McCarthy said both Whitten and Fong a bit on the rusty side, having played relatively little tennis over the summer and fall months. Fong also has been slowed by a back injury. "They both will come back strong when the spring season gets started," McCarthy said.

Saturday, February 11
Lewis-Clark State College 9, Whitman 0

It was hard to tell from the final team score, but the Whitman women's tennis team opened its season on a strong note in a 9-0 non-conference loss to Lewis-Clark State College Saturday in the Bratton Tennis Center. LCSC, an NAIA tennis powerhouse, had to battle to keep from losing several matches.

Amy Fong, feeling strong again after last year's back trouble, forced her opponent to three sets in the No. 1 singles match. Fong lost the first and third sets on 9-7 tie-breakers.

Whitman's Leslie Whitten, stressed the past week by her senior written and oral examinations, lost in straight sets in the No. 2 singles match, but two of her teammates pushed their foes to three sets before losing. Joanna Cutler breezed to a 6-1 win in the first set of the No. 3 singles match but then dropped the next two sets. In the No. 4 singles match, Monica Hilmer lost 7-5 decisions in the first and third sets.

In the No. 1 doubles match, Fong and Whitten lost 9-7. Hilmer and Selima Serna fell 9-8 in No. 3 doubles, losing the match on a 7-4 tie-breaker.

Singles

Doubles

Sunday, February 12
Gonzaga University 9, Whitman 0

With few exceptions, the Whitman women had little luck in hosting Gonzaga University and its NCAA Div. I athletes Sunday at the Bratton Tennis Center. Gonzaga swept all nine matches, losing only one set in singles in the process.

"We were basically up against a team that was a level above us," Whitman coach Jayne McCarthy said.

Whitman's Leslie Whitten turned in a very competitive effort in the No. 2 singles match, however, losing in three sets. For the second straight day, Monica Hilmer and Selima Serna came close to pulling out a victory in No. 3 doubles. They lost Sunday by an 8-6 score.

"The two matches we played this weekend will definitely help prepare us for our conference season," McCarthy said. "We know where we need to work in our various games if we want to improve."

Singles

No. 1 - Sarah Ust (GU) def. Amy Fong: 6-3, 6-1
No. 2 - Teresa Madson (GU) def. Leslie Whitten: 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
No. 3 - Melissa Juelis (GU) def. Joanna Cutler: 6-1, 6-1
No. 4 - Antje Frychel (GU) def. Monica Hilmer: 6-1, 6-1
No. 5 - Kirsten Horrobin (GU) def. Sarah McKinstry: 6-1, 6-0
No. 6 - Katie Rock (GU) def. Anna Beattie: 6-1, 6-1

Doubles

Friday, February 25
Whitman 6, Northwest Nazarene 3

After opening the spring season with losses to NCAA Div. I Gonzaga and NAIA powerhouse Lewis-Clark State, the Whitman women posted their first victory with a 6-3 decision over Northwest Nazarene University Friday afternoon in the Bratton Tennis Center.

The Missionaries won four of the six matches in singles and two of three in doubles. Leslie Whitten, Joanna Cutler and Monica Hilmer dominated their opponents in singles, losing just three games between them. Anna Beattie scored Whitman's other singles victory, winning 6-3, 6-0 in the No. 6 match.

In doubles, Whitten teamed with Amy Fong to win 8-3 in the No. 1 match, while Hilmer and Selima Serna were 8-5 winners in the No. 3 pairing.

The Missionaries came reasonably close to sweeping all six of the singles matches. Fong lost a 6-3, 7-5 battle in the No. 1 match. Sarah McKinstry lost in three sets in the No. 5 slot.

Singles

No. 1 - Kristen Crawford (NNU) def. Amy Fong: 6-3, 7-5
No. 2 - Leslie Whitten (WN) def. Stacia Hinson: 6-0, 6-0
No. 3 - Joanna Cutler (WN) def. Sara Hamilton: 6-0, 6-1
No. 4 - Monica Hilmer (WN) def. Brandi Blacklock: 6-1, 6-1
No. 5 - Keri Barnes (NNU) def. Sarah McKinstry: 1-6, 6-4, 6-2
No. 6 - Anna Beattie (WN) def. Beth Nixon: 6-3, 6-0

Doubles

Saturday, February 26
Whitman 6, Whitworth 3

The Whitman women's tennis team won its Northwest Conference opener on Saturday, downing Whitworth 6-3 in the Bratton Tennis Center, to even their season record at 2-2.

The Missionaries swept the top four singles matches, in addition to winning the No. 1 and No. 3 matches in doubles.

Playing No. 3 singles, Whitman's Joanna Cutler had to work the hardest for her victory, overcoming a 6-0 loss in the first set to win in three. Amy Fong won 6-4, 6-4 at the top of the line-up. Leslie Whitten and Monica Hilmer each dropped just one game in breezing to their wins in singles.

Singles

No. 1 - Amy Fong (WN) def. Jill Huibregtse: 6-4, 6-4
No. 2 - Leslie Whitten (WN) def. Lisa Benscheidg: 6-1, 6-0
No. 3 - Joanna Cutler (WN) def. Kelly Roberts: 0-6, 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 - Monica Hilmer (WN) def. Amy Austin: 6-0, 6-1
No. 5 - Jill Vaughan (WW) def. Anna Beattie: 6-3, 6-4
No. 6 - Alex Williams (WW) def. Tamiko Shiery: 6-3, 7-5

Doubles

Friday, March 3
Whitman 7, Lewis & Clark 2

Amy Fong won a three-set thriller in No. 1 singles, taking the deciding set on a 7-4 tie-breaker, as the Whitman women registered a 7-2 Northwest Conference victory at Lewis & Clark College Friday in Portland, Oregon.

Leslie Whitten, Joanna Cutler, Monica Hilmer and Anna Beattie also won singles matches for the Missionaries. In doubles, the teams of Whitten-Fong and Cutler-Sarah McKinstry chalked victories by the same 8-4 score.

Singles

No. 1 - Amy Fong (WN) def. Sara Schipani: 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4)
No. 2 - Leslie Whitten (WN) def. Joy Leising: 6-3, 6-2
No. 3 - Joanna Cutler (WN) def. Anna Van Asbeck: 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 - Monica Hilmer (WN) def. Desiree Miller: 6-3, 6-4
No. 5 - Lisa Hilgendorf (LC) def. Selima Serna: 6-1, 6-3
No. 6 - Anna Beattie (WN) def. Yumi Shimaburo: 6-1, 6-4

Doubles

Saturday, March 4
Whitman 9, Pacific 0

With its top two players sitting out the singles competition, the Whitman women's tennis team nonetheless cruised to a 9-0 Northwest Conference victory over Pacific University Saturday in Forest Grove, Oregon.

Joanna Cutler, who normally plays No. 3 singles, moved into the top spot and won in two sets. Monica Hilmer filled the No. 2 slot, winning in two sets thanks to a 6-2 tie-breaking victory in the second set. Sarah McKinstry needed three sets in the No. 3 singles match, but she closed out the third set in a hurry at 6-1.

Other winners in singles were Anna Beattie, Ashley Trout and Tamiko Shiery.

Leslie Whitten and Amy Fong, Whitman's top singles players, crushed their opponents in the No. 1 doubles match. Cutler and McKinstry also won in doubles, as did Hilmer and Selima Serna.

Singles

No. 1 - Joanna Cutler (WN) def. Michele Ramage: 6-0, 6-4
No. 2 - Monica Hilmer (WN) def. Kim Callaway: 6-1, 7-6 (6-2)
No. 3 - Sarah McKinstry (WN) def. Emily Wodjenski: 6-4, 4-6, 6-1
No. 4 - Anna Beattie (WN) def. Abby Hunt: 6-2, 6-2
No. 5 - Ashley Trout (WN) def. Connie Daniels: 7-5, 6-2
No. 6 - Tamiko Shiery (WN) def. Kami Hayward: 6-3, 6-0

Doubles

Friday, March 10
Whitman 5, Pacific Lutheran 4

The Whitman women's tennis team gained a measure of revenge Friday with a 5-4 Northwest Conference victory over Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) in the Bratton Tennis Center. The Missionaries upped their conference record to 4-0, taking sole possession of first place, and avenged two 5-4 losses to the Lutes a year ago. Those losses were Whitman's only defeats in conference play last spring.

"This was a big win for us, a terrific way to start our Spring Break trip to California next week," Whitman coach Jayne McCarthy said.

Whitman began the season with a No. 7 ranking in the West Region of NCAA Div. III, two spots in back of PLU. The Missionaries play four matches in California next week, two of them against teams ranked ahead of them in the regional preseason rankings -- No. 3 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and No. 6 University of Redlands.

Whitman collected its win over PLU despite being at less than full strength. Joanna Cutler, who normally plays No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles, was absent due to a family gathering, and two other Missionaries competed despite nagging injuries.

Leslie Whitten and Amy Fong, Whitman's top two singles players, won their matches to remain undefeated this season in conference play. They also ran their conference mark in No. 1 doubles to 4-0. As doubles partners, Whitten and Fong have now won 27 consecutive conference matches over the past three seasons.

Monica Hilmer, a Whitman sophomore moved up a notch to No. 3 singles, replacing Cutler, and fashioned a 6-4, 6-2 PLU junior Whitney Freed.

While Whitman was winning the top three singles matches, PLU was taking the bottom three. That left the three doubles matches to serve as the deciding factor. After Whitten and Fong won 8-5 in No. 1 doubles, senior Anna Beattie and sophomore Sarah McKinstry posted an 8-6 triumph in the No. 2 match.

Singles

No. 1 - Leslie Whitten (WN) def. Sofie Tibbling: 7-5, 6-1
No. 2 - Amy Fong (WN) def. Kalei Kowalski: 7-6 (8-6), 6-3
No. 3 - Monica Hilmer (WN) def. Whitney Freed: 6-4, 6-2
No. 4 - Shayna Cuzak (PLU) def. Selima Serna: 6-3, 6-2
No. 5 - Kirstin Rorvik (PLU) def. Ashley Trout: 6-1, 6-3
No. 6 - Becky Summerer (PLU) def. Anna Beattie : 6-4, 6-2

Doubles

Monday, March 13
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 9, Whitman 0

The Whitman women's tennis team embarked Monday on a four-day Spring Break trip through California, and for better or worse the Missionaries began with the most talented team available in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

In a match played at Claremont McKenna College, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) ran its season record to 10-1 with a 9-0 victory over Whitman. The CMS women won their conference title last year with a 10-0 recore and currently stand at 7-0 in league play this season.

The Athenas, who draw players from the Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd and Scripps colleges, began this season with a No. 3 ranking in the West Region of NCAA Div. III.

"As you can tell from the individual match scores, our top three players were very competitive against their opponents," Whitman coach Jayne McCarthy said. "The others were just a bit overwhelmed, but Claremont is probably the toughest team we will face all season."

Whitman's Amy Fong and Leslie Whitten lost a well-played 8-6 decision in No. 1 doubles against Blair Rubenstein and Sheila Marshall, the No. 2-ranked doubles team in the region. "That was almost a very good win for Amy and Leslie," McCarthy said.

After playing five of their first seven matches indoors at the Bratton Tennis Center, Whitman players faced a definite adjustment Monday in playing outdoors in the bright sunshine, McCarthy said. "We hope we've made that adjustment now and that our players will feel more comfortable as we play the rest of our matches on this trip."

The Missionaries play Tuesday at the University of Redlands, which began the season with a No. 6 regional ranking, one spot ahead of Whitman.

Singles

No. 1 - Blair Rubenstein (CMS) def. Leslie Whitten: 6-2, 6-4
No. 2 - Becca Dutton (CMS) def. Amy Fong: 7-5, 6-2
No. 3 - Sheila Marshall (CMS) def. Joanna Cutler: 6-2, 6-4
No. 4 - Leysha Wig (CMS) def. Monica Hilmer: 6-1, 6-1
No. 5 - Brook Calton (CMS) def. Selima Serna: 6-0, 6-1
No. 6 - Cora Pontee (CMS) def. Anna Beattie: 6-1, 6-1

Doubles

Tuesday, March 14
University of Redlands 7, Whitman 2

The University of Redlands, ranked one spot ahead of the Whitman women's tennis team in the NCAA Div. III regional preseason rankings, downed the visiting Missionaries 7-2 Tuesday afternoon in temperatures that climbed over the 80-degree mark.

Redlands improved to 8-2 on the season while Whitman dropped to 5-4 heading into Wednesday's match at Whittier College.

"Redlands has a very good team, so it was another challenging match," Whitman coach Jayne McCarthy said.

Whitman's Leslie Whitten and Amy Fong, winners of 27 consecutive doubles matches in the Northwest Conference, rolled to an easy 8-1 victory in the No. 1 doubles match. "Amy and Leslie played a strong match and won without too much difficulty," McCarthy said.

Fong notched Whitman's other team point in No. 2 singles, rebounding from a first-set loss to take the next two sets. Playing at No. 1 singles, Whitten forced her match to three sets before losing.

Joanna Cutler and Monica Hilmer lost their singles matches in straight sets, although both waged a good fight before losing one of their sets 7-5.

Singles

Doubles

Wednesday March 15
Whitman 5, Whittier 4

With Joanna Cutler, Monica Hilmer and Sarah McKinstry winning matches in both singles and doubles play, the Whitman women's tennis team slipped past Whittier College 5-4 on the third day of its Spring Break swing through California.

The two teams split the six singles matches with Cutler at No. 3, Hilmer at No. 4 and McKinstry at No. 6 winning in straight sets. The Missionaries picked up two more team points by winning two of the three doubles matches. Cutler and Hilmer were 9-8 winners in No. 2 doubles, while McKinstry teamed with Anna Beattie to take the No. 3 doubles match.

Whitman's top two players, senior co-captains Leslie Whitten and Amy Fong, had a tough day, losing in both singles and doubles. Fong pulled out of singles match in the second set because of a chronic back problem. "Amy and Leslie faced some really tough players," Whitman coach Jayne McCarthy said.

Singles

No. 1 - Mariana Madico (WT) def. Leslie Whitten: 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 - Amanda Shallcross (WT) def. Amy Fong: 7-5, 5-2 (retired)
No. 3 - Joanna Cutler (WN) def. Christine Flahery: 7-5, 6-3
No. 4 - Monica Hilmer (WN) def. Jessica Wilgus: 7-5, 6-3
No. 5 - Sara Victor (WT) def. Selima Serna: 6-4, 6-4
No. 6 - Sarah McKinstry (WN) def. Maisa Idriss: 6-3, 6-2

Doubles

No. 1 - Madico-Shallcross (WT) def. Whitten-Fong: 8-4
No. 2 - Cutler-Hilmer (WN) def. Wilgus-Victor: 9-8 (7-4)
No. 3 - McKinstry-Anna Beattie (WN) def. Flaherty-Idriss: 8-3

Thursday, March 16
Whitman 9, Cal Lutheran 0

The Whitman women's tennis team ended its Spring Break trip to California with a dominating 9-0 victory Thursday at California Lutheran University.

"It was a terrific way to finish up this trip," Whitman coach Jayne McCarthy said. "I was very pleased with ourlevel of play."

The Missionaries lost just one set in singles play -- and that loss came on a tie-breaker. Whitman also played singles without one of its top players, Amy Fong, who was resting a sore back.

By winning Thursday, Whitman evened its record against California schools at 2-2. The Missionaries are 7-4 on the season.

Singles

No. 1 -Leslie Whitten (WN) def. Kaarin Benson: 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 - Joanna Cutler (WN) def. Alicia Lawson: 6-1, 6-1
No. 3 -Monica Hilmer (WN) def. Jen Stolenberg: 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
No. 4 - Selima Serna (WN) def. Stacy Scanlan: 7-6 (7-4), 6-0
No. 5 - Anna Beattie (WN) def. Laura Snapp: 6-2, 6-1
No. 6 - Sarah McKinstry (WN) def. Izzy Escudero: 6-2, 6-3

Doubles

No. 1 -Whitten-Amy Fong (WN) def. Benson-Stolenberg: 8-2
No. 2 - Cutler-Hilmer (WN) def. Lawson-Scanlan: 8-5
No. 3 - McKinstry-Beattie (WN) def. Snapp-Escudero: 8-3

Saturday, March 25
Puget Sound 5, Whitman 4

With two key players hampered by injury and illness, a rusty Whitman women's tennis team suffered a 5-4 upset loss at the hands of the University of Puget Sound Saturday at the Bratton Tennis Center.

Playing their first match in more than a week, the Missionaries took control early by sweeping the three doubles matches. But the Loggers turned the tables by winning five of six singles matches, including a trio of three-set battles. Sarah McKinstry in No. 6 singles was Whitman's only winner.

"We underestimated them," Whitman coach Jayne McCarthy said. "We also had last week off and Amy (Fong) is out of our singles lineup with a bad back. But the good thing is we will get another chance at them and the second match is more important than the first."

Whitman's Leslie Whitten, Joanna Cutler and Selima Serna lost three-set decisions in singles after winning their opening sets. Cutler played despite being ill.

The loss was Whitman's first in Northwest Conference play against four victories. The Missionaries are 7-5 overall.

Singles

No. 1 - Mel Hiramoto (UPS) def. Leslie Whitten: 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
No. 2 - Kristen Bounds (UPS) def. Monica Hilmer: 7-6 (9-7), 6-1
No. 3 - Laura Brock (UPS) def. Joanna Cutler: 0-6, 6-3, 6-4
No. 4 - Hillary Schenk (UPS) def. Selima Serna: 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
No. 5 - Jade-Lin Wong (UPS) def. Anna Beattie: 6-4, 6-4
No. 6 - Sarah McKinstry (WN) def. Sarah Griffith: 7-5, 6-3

Doubles

No. 1 - Whitten-Amy Fong (WN) def. Hiramoto-Bounds: 8-4
No. 2 - Cutler-Hilmer (WN) def. Brock-Schenk: 8-6
No. 3 - McKinstry-Anna Beattie (WN) def. Wong-Kate Fusillo: 8-5

Friday, March 31
Whitman 8, Willamette 1

The Whitman women's tennis team tuned up for Sunday's showdown with Linfield by rolling over Willamette 8-1 Friday afternoon on the Whitman outdoor courts. "I was very pleased with the team's overall play today," said Whitman coach Jayne McCarthy. "Today's match will be a confidence booster and a springboard into Sunday's match against Linfield."

Whitman swept all six of the singles matches from Willamette along with two of the three doubles matches. Leslie Whitten and Amy Fong won again in No. 1 doubles, running their victory streak over Northwest Conference opponents to 29.

Whitten and Joanna Cutler, Whitman's top seeds in singles, scored convincing wins, and sophomore Selima Serna got a confidence booster with a 6-3, 6-3 victory in the No. 4 singles match.

With just four matches left in the regular season, McCarthy is encouraged by her team's play and optimistic about its chances of winning the post-season tournament. "The team is playing very well," she said. "We have a good chance at winning conference."

Whitman is 8-5 on the season and 5-1 in conference. Sunday's match against Linfield, which began the weekend with a 5-0 conference record, starts at 11 a.m.

Singles

No. 1 - Leslie Whitten (WN) def. Renee Purdy: 6-2, 6-2
No. 2 - Joanna Cutler (WN) def. Kelli Hatfield: 6-1, 6-2
No. 3 - Monica Hilmer (WN) def. Amy Rayborn: 6-4, 1-6, 6-2
No. 4 - Selima Serna (WN) def. Tamako Hara: 6-3, 6-3
No. 5 - Anna Beattie (WN) def. Kathryn Sorensen: 6-2, 6-1
No. 6 - Sarah McKinstry (WN) def. Marion Hunt: 6-4, 2-6 (7-3)

Doubles

No. 1 - Whitten-Amy Fong (WN) def. Purdy-Sorensen: 8-1
No. 2 - Cutler-Hilmer (WN) def. Hatfield-Hara: 8-2
No. 3 - Rayborn-Hunt (WU) def. Beattie-McKinstry: 8-6

Sunday, April 2
Whitman 5, Linfield 4

Saturday, April 8
Whitman 5, Whitworth 4

The Whitman women's tennis team won four of six matches in singles and added a victory in doubles to squeak past Whitworth 5-4 in Spokane Saturday. The Missionaries improved to 7-1 in the Northwest Conference and remained one of two schools with only one loss in conference play.

Leslie Whitten, Amy Fong, Joanna Cutler and Monica Hilmer won the top four singles matches for Whitman, winning all four in straight sets. Hilmer, a sophomore, lost just one game in posting her victory in the No. 4 singles match, which ran her season record in singles to a team-best 10-5. "Monica is playing very well," Whitman coach Jayne McCarthy said. "She has become one of the backbones of our team."

Whitten and Fong ran their conference winning streak in doubles to 31 consecutive matches with an easy 8-1 triumph in the No. 1 doubles match. The senior co-captains have not lost a conference doubles match since midway through their sophomore season.

Singles

Doubles

Friday, April 14
Whitman 9, University of Puget Sound 0

The Whitman women's tennis team evened the score, and then some, with the University of Puget Sound Friday afternoon in Tacoma. Avenging their only Northwest Conference loss of the season, the Missionaries crushed the Loggers 9-0.

Whitman improved to 8-1 in conference play and set the stage for Saturday's final regular match at Pacific Lutheran University.

Leslie Whitten and Amy Fong won the top two singles matches in straight sets. Joanna Cutler, Monica Hilmer, Selima Serna and Anna Beattie then took the next four singles matches, losing just one set between them.

Whitten and Fong won the 32nd consecutive doubles match in conference play with an 8- 2 victory in No. 1 singles. Cutler and Hilmer won by the same in No. 2 doubles, while Beattie teamed with Sarah McKinstry to win 8-4 in the No. 3 match.

Whitman suffered a 5-4 upset loss to Puget Sound earlier in the season. Two of Whitman's key players played at less than 100 percent in that match, however, because of injury or illness.

Singles

Doubles

Saturday, April 15
Pacific Lutheran 6, Whitman 3

Two was an unlucky number when the Whitman women's tennis attempted to take its second match this season from Pacific Lutheran Saturday afternoon in Tacoma. Picking up key wins in No. 2 singles and No. 2 doubles, the Lutes ended the regular season for both schools with a 6-3 Northwest Conference victory.

Both schools finished with 8-2 records in conference play. Linfield, a team that lost to Whitman but downed Pacific Lutheran during the season, ended its season with a 10-1 mark.

The Missionaries won just two of six singles matches Saturday. Senior Leslie Whitten took the No. 1 match 6-4, 6-1, and sophomore Monica Hilmer won 6-1, 6-1 in the No. 4 match.

Whitten and Amy Fong were 8-5 winners in the No. 1 doubles match, running their winning streak against conference opponents to 33. In the No. 2 doubles match, Hilmer and Joanna Cutler waged a good fight but eventually lost a close 8-6 decision.

Earlier this season in Walla Walla, Whitman downed the Lutes 5-4, even though Cutler missed the match due to a family commitment.

Singles

Doubles

Northwest Conference Championships
Friday, April 21 -- Tualatin Hills Tennis Center
Beaverton, Oregon
Round One: Whitman 7, Willamette 2

The Whitman women's tennis team marched past Willamette 7-2 in the opening round of the Northwest Conference championships Friday morning at the Tualatin Hills Tennis Center in Beaverton, Oregon.

Leslie Whitten, Amy Fong, Joanna Cutler and Monica Hilmer took the top four singles matches, all in straight sets. Sarah McKinstry added a 9-7 pro-set victory in the No. 6 singles matches, while Anna Beattie lost by the same pro-set score at No. 5.

Whitten and Fong won 8-0 in the No. 1 doubles match. Cutler and Hilmer were 8-2 winners in the No. 2 doubles match.

Singles

Doubles

Northwest Conference Championships
Friday, April 21 -- Tualatin Hills Tennis Center
Beaverton, Oregon
Semifinals: Pacific Lutheran 5, Whitman 4

Singles

Pacific Lutheran derailed Whitman's pursuit of a women's tennis championship Friday evening in the semifinals of the Northwest Conference championships at the Tualatin Hills Tennis Center in Beaverton, Oregon. The Lutes edged Whitman 5-4 to advance to tournament title match against Linfield.

"The match was very, very close," Whitman coach Jayne McCarthy said. "But we still had a great season. I'm not at all disappointed."

The two teams split the six singles matches. Seniors Leslie Whitten and Amy Fong gave the Missionaries victories in the top two matches, and sophomore Monica Hilmer was a winner at No. 4.

The Lutes pulled out the team victory by winning two of three matches in doubles. Whitten and Fong were 8-6 winners in No. 1 doubles, but Hilmer and Joanna Cutler lost a close match by the same score in No. 2 doubles. PLU also got the win in No. 3 doubles.

Whitman and PLU split their two regular season matches, with both teams winning on their home courts.

Doubles

Northwest Conference Championships
Saturday, April 22 -- Tualatin Hills Tennis Center
Beaverton, Oregon
For Third Place: Whitman 7, Lewis & Clark 2

It was no contest Saturday as the Whitman women's tennis team beat Lewis & Clark 7-2 to claim third place in the Northwest Conference championships at the Tualatin Hills Tennis Center in Beaverton. After racking up more than enough points to win the match, Whitman players forfeited the No. 3 and No. 5 singles matches so the team could leave for its return trip to campus.

Other matches Saturday included the championship contest between Pacific Lutheran and Linfield. PLU took home the title with a 5-4 victory.

As Whitman's No. 1 doubles team, senior co-captains Leslie Whitten and Amy Fong won for the third time in the tournament on Saturday to finish their second consecutive undefeated season against conference opponents. They capped their collegiate careers with a 36-match winning streak. Their last lost to conference opponents in doubles came midway through their sophomore seasons.

"Leslie and Amy have been tremendous," Whitman coach Jayne McCarthy said. "I zoomed onto the court after their last match and gave them both a big hug."

McCarthy said there is a possibility that Whitten and Fong will be ranked high enough regionally to receive a doubles berth into the NCAA Div. III post-season. "We'll just have to wait and see. Only the top four doubles teams in the entire region, California included, are invited."

Whitten and Fong also finished their singles careers in style during the tournament, winning three matches apiece. Whitten played most of the season at No. 1 singles, compiling an 11-1 record in conference matches. Her only loss came in three sets. Meanwhile, Fong filled the No. 2 spot on a regular basis and finished with a 9-1 conference record despite struggling at times with a bad back.

Its season-ending victory over Lewis & Clark pushed Whitman's conference record this year to 10-3. Over the past three seasons, with Whitten and Fong leading the way, the Missionary women won 33 of 40 conference matches.

Both Whitten and Fong earned spots on the All-Northwest Conference First-Team, which was announced at the end of the tournament.

Other Whitman players concluded strong conference seasons Saturday. Sophomore Monica Hilmer, who played most of the season at No. 4 singles, won three more times during the tournament to run her conference record to 12-1. Her only loss in singles during the conference season was in a match she played at No. 2 singles.

As Whitman's No. 2 doubles team, Hilmer and junior Joanna Cutler won two of three matches during the tournament to finish their season with an 8-4 conference record.

McCarthy, the women's coach at Whitman for the past 14 seasons, announced her retirement at the end of Saturday's match. She had earned conference "Coach of the Year" four times during her coaching tenure. "It's good for me to go out with such a great team," she said.

Singles

Doubles