March 3, 2007

Lutes Defeat Whitworth in Tough NWC Match, 5-4

Trailing 2-1 after doubles competition, Pacific Lutheran won four of the six singles matches to defeat the Whitworth Pirates, 5-4, in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match played Saturday at the UPS Indoor Pavilion.

PLU's top doubles team of Erika Feltus and Nicole Petrzelka remained unbeaten in five matches this year with an 8-1 win over Linh Aven and Katie Troxell, but the Pirates had wins from Rachael McCoola and Betsy Johnson at No. 2 and from Taryn Smith and Justine Hays at No. 3 doubles to take the early lead.

The Lutes responded with singles wins from Feltus, Petrzelka, Bria Smith and Liz Currey. With her 6-4, 6-4 win over Aven at No. 1, Feltus remained unbeaten this season in singles competition.

The Lutes, now 4-1 for the season and also in the conference, return to action at 11 a.m. Sunday when they host the Whitman Missionaries. Whitworth is now 2-4 overall and in the conference.

Singles:
Erika Feltus, PLU, def. Linh Aven, 6-4, 6-4
Nicole Petrzelka, PLU, def. Rachael McCoola, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
Bria Smith, PLU, def. Katie Troxell, 6-4, 7-5
Besty Johnson, Whw, def. Ashley Coats, 6-4, 6-7, (11-9) super tie breaker
Taryn Smith, Whw, def. Tracy Fujitani, 7-5, 6-3
Liz Currey, PLU, def. Justine Hays, 6-0, 2-6, 6-3

Doubles:
Feltus-Petrzelka, PLU, def. Aven-Troxell, 8-1
McCoola-Johnson, Whw, def. Megan Proffitt-Coats, 9-7
T. Smith-Hays, Whw, def. Fujitani-B. Smith, 8-5

- PLU -