SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitman College's women's tennis team pounded out an 8-1 Northwest Conference victory Saturday at host Whitworth University, sinking the Pirates behind an unblemished record in the six singles matches after the 25th-ranked Missionaries earned lead in doubles by taking two of three.

The victory improves Whitman's records to 5-5 overall and 4-1 within the league. Whitworth slips to 1-6 and 1-4, respectively.

Lindsey Brodeck and Allie Wallin teamed up to elevate Whitman to the lead quickly in the opening doubles competitions, racing out to a commanding 8-0 win at No. 2 over Whitworth's Anabelle Burns and Emma Jo Wiley. The Pirates rallied to tie the match by coming back from a mid-match service break to steal a point at 1-doubles, then looked like they might gain another point at No. 3.

The Pirates' Paige Rohrback and Ashley Winslow rolled to a 4-0 lead over the Whitties' Jenna Gilbert and Jana Klages-Miller but the Whitman tandem took its turn at coming from behind, eventually taking a 9-8 match by taking the tiebreaker, 7-3.

The momentum swing back toward Whitman's favor seemed to spur the Missionaries in singles action as they finished off Whitworth's six players without losing a set.

Wallin at No. 2, Brodeck at No. 3, Gilbert at No. 4 and Klages-Miller at No. 5 each picked up second wins on the day during the singles matches. Adding to the treasures in singles were Mary Hill at No. 2 and Lori Sheng at No. 6.

As the regular season passes its halfway point the Missionaries continue on the road for their next matches, traveling to Salem, Oregon, to square off with Willamette University on March 12 followed the next day by a trip to McMinnville, Ore., for a match against host Linfield College.