SPOKANE, Wash.  In the first of three clashes Saturday between Whitman College and Whitworth University teams, the Blues' 24th-ranked men's tennis team drew first blood with an 8-1 Northwest Conference victory over the host Pirates.

A quartet of Whitman (10-2, 4-0 NWC) players registered wins in both singles and doubles action, led by Zach Hewlin's victories at No. 1 singles and with Rajul Chikkalingaiah at 1-doubles.

Hewlin and Chikkalingaiah teamed up for an 8-6 doubles win, helping the Blues sweep the trio of doubles matches. Robert Carter and Alex Hwang rolled 8-1 at the No. 2 slot, and the tandem of Trevor Fennessy and Daniel Foster won 8-5 at No. 3.

Each of Whitman's five wins in singles play were in straight sets with Hewlin at No. 1, Chase Friedman at No. 2, Carter at No. 3, Chikkalingaiah in the fifth spot and Hwang in 6-singles winning out, surrendering at most a total of five games to their Whitworth (0-5, 0-3) opponents.

The Blues return home to Walla Walla for their next match, an 11 a.m. home match Sunday against Pacific (Ore.) University.

Saturday's events against Whitworth continued into the afternoon with baseball's home doubleheader at Borleske Stadium, and the women's tennis team's home match against the Pirates at the Bratton Indoor Tennis Center. The conference championship in men's basketball will be determined in the evening in Walla Walla pitting No. 2 Whitman against No. 4 Whitworth.