PORTLAND, Ore. – The Whitworth men's tennis team dropped a pair of Northwest Conference road matches this weekend. The Pirates fell 7-2 at Lewis & Clark late on Friday night, then lost 8-1 at George Fox on Saturday.
Whitworth is now 6-8 overall and 5-4 in the NWC. The weekend results dealt the Pirates' hopes for a spot in the NWC men's tennis tournament a severe blow.
Lewis & Clark 7, Whitworth 2 – The Pioneers now hold the tiebreaker over Whitworth for the fourth and final NWC tournament spot based on combined results of the two matches this season. The Pirates defeated the Pioneers 5-4 on March 1st, but Friday night's result gives L&C a final margin of 11-7.
Friday night's match started well for the Bucs as Whitworth claimed two of the three doubles matches. Drew Brigham and Shane Sandlin earned an 8-5 win over Daniel Hahm and Morgan Joyce at #1. Matt Goebel and Blake Miller defeated Michael Brewer and Kevin Ross by the same score at #2.
Whitworth might have made it a doubles sweep, but L&C rallied for the point at #3 when Cameron Smith and Scott Monismith edged Drew Adams and John Talbot 9-8 (7-2).
The Pioneers then swept all six singles matches. Chris Engelmann pushed Hahm to three sets at #3 singles before falling 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. Likewise, Miller and Joyce went three sets at #4 before the Pioneer pulled out a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 win.
George Fox 8, Whitworth 1 – The Pirates fell behind 3-0 after doubles and never could get momentum going against the Bruins on Saturday morning on the indoor courts at The Courthouse in Salem.
Sandlin played #6 singles and was the only Whitworth player to go more than two sets. He fell 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 against Nick Grafton. Blake Miller dropped his match to Chace Stalcup in two tiebreak sets 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4).
Justin McClain swept Drew Brigham 6-2, 6-2 at #1 singles and Chris Lilley defeated Chris Engelmann 6-2, 6-0 at #2 singles.
Whitworth's next match is April 9th when the Pirates host league-leading and nationally-ranked Whitman at 4:00 pm.
