Converging Upon Yakima

As 12 Northwest Conference tennis teams make their way to the Yakima Tennis Center for the 2009 NWC Championships, hosted by Puget Sound, it looks to be a hotly contested champion in both brackets. On the men's side, defending champion Whitman holds down the top seed and will look to hold off second-seeded Pacific Lutheran and third-seeded Linfield. On the women's side, Whitworth holds down the top seed, looking to dethrone Linfield as conference champion.

Men

The Whitman men will look to defend their 2008 title this week as they try to remain perfect this season against NWC opponents. The Missionaries, ranked 25th in the latest Campbells/ITA NCAA Division III rankings, used seven different players at the top position to earn the top seed in this year's tournament.

The Pacific Lutheran Lutes and Linfield Wildcats look to be the Missionaries' toughest threat in 2009 as both teams finished the regular season with a 13-3 record in conference. PLU, who has won 28 NWC titles since 1967, found their strength this season in singles play, winning 61.1% of individual matches. Linfield also used a deep line-up to earn victories in singles play while winning a majority of doubles matches as well.

Willamette earned the fourth seed in the NWC tournament by winning a tiebreaker with Whitworth and the two teams will meet in the first round for the right to take on top-seeded Whitman in the second round. Matthew Houser went 11-5 in singles play for Willamette to help them earn the fourth seed while Whitworth was led by Michael Shelton, who posted a record of 10-9 at the number one singles position.

The sixth-seed for the 2009 tournament will be the host Loggers of Puget Sound. The Loggers were led by a 12-6 record from junior Scooter Sabel as they jumped Pacific in the standings late in the season to earn the final spot.

Women

The Whitworth Pirates earned the top spot in the women's bracket after becoming the first team in over 100 NWC matches to defeat the Linfield Wildcats. At 19-3 on the season and a perfect 16-0 in NWC play, the Bucs are led by Rachel Burns, who put together a record of 11-5 at the number one singles position.

Linfield, winner of the last seven NWC titles, takes the number two seed after only losing to Whitworth during the NWC season. Sophie Larson has been a rock for the 'Cats, posting a record of 18-2 on the year. Whitman will be the number three in the championships after going 12-4 in conference matches. Elise Otto has posted a 13-4 record at the number one singles position to lead the Missionaires into the tournament.

Behind the outstanding play of Amalia Nilsson, the Lewis & Clark Pioneers will be the fourth seed this weekend. Nilsson has gone 19-1 at the top singles position to lead the Pios in 2009. After going just 1-17 in 2008, the Pacific Boxers earned a spot in the NWC tournament by posting a record of 7-9 overall to earn the fifth seed and a match-up with Lewis & Clark.

Willamette will be the sixth-seed after falling in a tiebreaker with the Boxers. Willamette's strength has been their doubles play, where they have won a majority of the matches they have played.