SPOKANE - Whitworth last defeated Pacific Lutheran in tennis team back on April 13, 1991 - at least until Saturday, when the Pirates turned back the Lutes, 6-3, in Northwest Conference action.

The Pirates improved their overall record to 5-7 and their conference mark to 5-3 with the win over the Lutes, who are now 7-5 overall and in the NWC after their third straight loss.

The Lutes seemed destined to continue a long string of victories over Whitworth after they won two of the three doubles matches. The Pirates battled back to win five of the singles matches, however, to avenge not only a long string of losses but also a close 5-4 defeat against PLU suffered in Tacoma on Feb. 13.

Joel Trudel and Justin Peterson opened with an 8-5 win over Michael Shelton and Colin Zalewski at No. 1 doubles, and Brent Smoots and Taylor Dickey took a 8-6 decision from Colin Barrett and Kellen Oetgen at No. 3 doubles.

Trudel made quick work of Shelton at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-2, but the Pirates were up for the challenge in the remainder of the singles matches. Zalewski beat Peterson in three sets at No. 2 singles, as did Oetgen over Dickey at No. 5 singles. The other Whitworth winners were Cameron Williams, Joe Wales and Barrett.

The Lutes have two weeks off before facing five teams on their annual Spring Break trip to Southern California.

- PLU -