2006 Northwest Conference
Women's Tennis Championships
April 21-22
Yakima Tennis Club, Yakima, Wash.
Katie Collier, Whitman
Megan Rodgers, Linfield
Tiffany Kam, Willamette
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2006 Northwest Conference April 21-22 Yakima Tennis Club, Yakima, Wash. |
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| Katie Collier, Whitman |
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Tiffany Kam, Willamette |
Women's NWC Tournament Preview
Clearly, Linfield (19-3 overall, 16-0 NWC) is the team to beat at the 2006 Northwest Conference championships.
The Wildcats haven’t lost a conference match in five seasons, a streak that was stretched to 61 straight matches with a victory Tuesday over George Fox.
Linfield features three of the NWC’s top performers in junior all-stars Becca Johnson, Kasey Kuenzli and Megan Rodgers. Rodgers enters the tournament with a 15-1 singles record.
Linfield, which has won the last four league crowns, can become the first program to win five straight titles since Pacific Lutheran won six in a row between 1980 to 1985.
The team with the best chance to knock off the Wildcats is Puget Sound (14-1, 14-1 NWC). The Loggers rely on all-star Alyssa Sidoff, as well as proven veterans Molly Clevenger and Katie Schultz. Katie Russell brings a 14-0 singles mark to the NWC tournament.
With a solid lineup from top to bottom, Pacific Lutheran (12-6, 10-4 NWC) finished third in the conference standings. The Lutes have returning all-star Nicole Petrzelka as well as sophomore sensations Liz Currey and Erika Feltus.
Whitman (9-12, 9-6 NWC), the No. 4 seed, could make some noise at this year’s tournament. Katie Collier, who earned NWC Player of the Week honors, leads the Missionaries. Asiya Khaki is also a player to watch.
A trio of talented freshmen are making a splash for Whitworth (9-9, 8-8 NWC), which opposes Whitman in the tournament’s first round. Linh Aven, Chelsea Sweetin and Jamie Kneese have all seen extensive action this spring. Sophomore Taryn Smith is another of the Pirates’ top players.
Sixth-seed Willamette (7-11, 6-10 NWC), which faces third-seed PLU, has the tournament’s toughest first-round draw. Junior Hannah Johnson (13-3) and sophomore Alaine Anderson (12-5) sport the Bearcats’ best individual singles records.
Women's NWC Tournament Results and Schedule
FRIDAY
8 a.m.
(4) Whitman vs. (5) Whitworth
(3) Pacific Lutheran vs. (6) Willamette
12:30 p.m.
(3) Pacific Lutheran or (6) Willamette vs. (2) Puget Sound
(4) Whitman or (5) Whitworth vs. (1) Linfield
3:30 p.m.
(4) Whitman or (5) Whitworth vs. (3) Pacific Lutheran or (6) Willamette
SATURDAY
8 a.m.
Third-Place Match
Noon
Championship Match