Women's Tennis: Whitman Takes Aim At Cats, NWC Top Spot

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- The Whitman College women's tennis team can claim a share of first place in the Northwest Conference with a pair of home-court victories later this week.

Whitman, 7-1 in the NWC and 12-3 overall, took over second place in the standings last weekend with a victory over Whitworth in Spokane.

The Missionaries are back home this week, facing first-place Linfield (9-0 NWC, 9-4) at 11 a.m. Friday followed by fourth-place Willamette (4-4 NWC, 6-6) at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Both matches will take place on the outdoor courts, weather permitting, or in the Bratton Tennis Center if necessary.

With just four NWC matches left in the regular season, Whitman needs a victory over Linfield on Friday to even its season slate against the Wildcats and keep its title hopes alive.

In the first meeting between the two teams back in February, Whitman suffered its only NWC loss of the spring. Linfield won three close matches in the opening round of doubles and then split the six decisions in singles for a 6-3 victory.

A day after that loss, Whitman played without team leader Alyssa Roberg and squeaked past Willamette 5-4 in Salem.

Emily Rolston

In conjunction with this week's matches, the last of their regular season home dates, the Missionaries are celebrating Family Weekend and expect to have several relatives sprinkled among the Whitman fans.

Whitman will also recognize seniors Emily Rolston, Charlotte Scott and Lizzy Schiller at a Friday night team dinner and again on Saturday during presentation of line-ups prior to the Willamette match.

"Our three seniors have taken different paths, but each one has been instrumental in our success this season as well as our program's transformation into a contender at the conference, regional and national levels," Whitman coach John Hein said.

"Charlotte has been an amazing teammate and over the years has given us some great wins in both singles and especially in doubles," Hein said.

"More than that, she has gone from being a very reserved first-year player to a very mature and confident team leader."

As a Spanish major, Scott missed a season while studying in Spain. "It says so much about Charlotte's character to know that she missed that time but still serves as one of our key leaders," Hein said.

Schiller joined the team as a junior after choosing not to play in her first two years at Whitman.

Charlotte Scott

"Once she was ready for the commitment, Lizzy has given it her all," Hein said. "She has a knack for finding ways to win. She also is so incredibly fun and positive that she brings terrific energy to the team, and I can't say enough her amazing work ethic and integrity."

Rolston, who stepped into Whitman's top six as a first-year player, has amassed dozens of victories since then.

"Emily's on-court success is just part of what she has given our team," Hein said. "She has continued to build on her game and her natural leadership abilities. On and off the court, Emily is the heart of this team. I could speak volumes about what she means to us."

On the court, Rolston has had her biggest impact in doubles, although she has taken her overall game to a new level as a senior, Hein said. "She is primed to the play the best singles of her career over the next few weeks."

After this week's matches, Whitman finishes the regular season at George Fox on Friday, April 13, and at Lewis & Clark on Saturday, April 14.

The team that finishes first in the final NWC standings wins the conference title and gets to host the four-team playoffs April 21-22. The winner of that playoff gets an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III national championship tournament.

Whitman's Lizzy Schiller lines up a backhand

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CONTACT: Dave Holden
Sports Information Director
Whitman College, Walla Walla, Wash.
509 527-5902; holden@whitman.edu