April 13, 2007

PLU Women Netters Fall to Unbeaten Linfield

PARKLAND, Wash. – Linfield remained unbeaten in Northwest Conference women’s tennis action with an 8-1 victory over the host Pacific Lutheran Lutes on Friday night at Sprinker Recreation Center.

The Wildcats, who have won five consecutive Northwest Conference titles, improved to 14-0 in conference matches this season. Pacific Lutheran is now 10-5 in the conference and trails Whitman and Puget Sound, both 11-4, for second place in the NWC standings.

The Wildcats won all three doubles points, though two went to super tiebreaker. Sallie Katter and Jeanna Parks defeated Bria Smith and Ashley Coats 9-8 (10-4) at No. 2, and Molly Nelson and Kelli Sides beat Ashley Brooks and Tracy Fujitani by the same score at No. 3. Linfield’s Becca Johnson and Megan Rodgers beat PLU’s Erika Feltus and Nicole Petrzelka for the second time this season at No. 1 doubles, taking an 8-3 win. Feltus and Petrzelka have lost only three doubles matches this season.

The Lutes got their one point from Liz Currey at No. 4 singles. She defeated Katter in a super tiebreaker, 2-6, 6-4, (10-7). Petrzelka took Johnson to three sets in the No. 1 singles match before dropping a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 decision.

Pacific Lutheran finishes the regular season with a match at 6 p.m. Saturday night against George Fox. The teams will play at Sprinker Recreation Center.

Linfield 8, PLU 1

Doubles:
Becca Johnson-Megan Rogers, Lin, def. Erika Feltus-Nicole Petrzelka, 8-3
Sallie Katter-Jeanna Parks, Lin, def. Bria Smith-Ashley Coats, 9-8 (10-4)
Molly Nelson-Kelli Sides, Lin, def. Ashley Brooks-Tracy Fujitani, 9-8 (10-4)

Singles:
Johnson, Lin, def., Petrzelka, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
Rogers, Lin, def. Feltus, 6-4, 6-3
Sides, Lin, def. Coats, 6-2, 6-2
Liz Currey, PLU, def. Katter, 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-7)
Nelson, def. Smith, 8-4
Emma Becker, Lin, def. Fujitani, 8-0

- PLU -