Pacific Match Results

Willamette Match Results

FOREST GROVE, OR - Whitman's No. 27 nationally-ranked women's tennis team clinched the program's second consecutive Northwest Conference regular-season championship on Saturday with road victories at Willamette and Pacific.

The Missionaries, No. 5 in the latest NCAA Division III West Region poll, bopped the Bearcats, 6-3, and bested the Boxers, 8-1, to end the regular season 12-0 in the NWC and 14-10 overall.

"It was fitting that such an impressive season would end with such an impressive weekend," Whitman coach John Hein said. "It speaks to the depth of our team, the character, and how we compete."

By virtue of its first-place finish, Whitman earned the right to host next weekend's Northwest Conference tournament. The Missionaries will play Puget Sound at 2 p.m. on Saturday in the first of two semifinal matchups while Linfield and Whitworth follow.

The semifinal winners will play for the tournament title next Sunday at noon.

Whitman claimed two of three doubles matches against Willamette. Jenna Dobrin and Hannah Palkowitz won 8-6 at No. 2 doubles while Seana Minuth and Allie Wallin chalked up an 8-1 triumph at No. 3.

The Missionaries dominated singles matches three through six. Wins were posted by Katrina Allick, Palkowitz (6-0, 6-2), Olivia Bates (6-2, 6-4), and Minuth (6-3, 6-0).

Allick defeated Alicia Sohn 6-0 in set one before Sohn retired in the second set with Allick leading 3-0.

Whitman swept its doubles contests with Pacific. Allick and Erin Bell gutted out an 8-6 win in No. 1, Wallin and Palkowitz cruised at No. 2, 8-1, and Minuth and Bates were winners at No. 3, 8-4.

The Missionaries prevailed in all but one singles match. Numbers two through six - Wallin, Allick, Palkowitz, Bates, and Maggie Eismeier - all won in straight sets.

"We entered each match with a 9-0 mentality," Allick said. "Everyone brought it. I expected nothing less. We are pumped and proud of ourselves.

"We are pumped for next weekend and hopefully nationals," Allick said. "(April 25 and 26) should be a beautiful and amazing weekend."

Erin Bell came up short at No. 1 singles, but managed to reach a third set before bowing in her match before bowing, 6-4, 5-7, 10-3.

I'm proud of our whole team," Bell said. "We pulled through. We did what we needed to do. We're excited for the conference tournament."