WALLA WALLA, Wash. — The Pacific Lutheran University women's tennis program got its first taste of competition over the weekend, competing at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Northwest Regional held from Friday through Monday at Whitman College's Outdoor Tennis Courts and the Bratton Indoor Tennis Center.
 
"Overall, I was pleased with the way we competed at this year's ITA's given the limited amount of practice time we've had this fall. Our main goal going into the championships was to get our team some match play experience and also get a feel for the competition we will face in the Spring," said Head Coach Michael Harmon.
 
"We're very young and inexperienced which allows for lots of improvement. I was extremely impressed with the high level of tennis in the Northwest Conference. It was a learning experience and gave us an idea how hard we will need to work to be competitive."
 
The Lutes experienced success in the B singles bracket with Libertad Sarmiento winning by default over George Fox University's Neku Onoja in the opening round. Sarmiento battled hard in a, 7-5, 1-6, 6-2 setback to Linfield University's Lisa Ponti in the second round. Sarmiento earned and 8-4 win in the B singles second round consolation bracket over Whitworth University's Elizabeth Hopkins before dropping a tight 8-5 match in the B singles second round consolation semifinals.
 
Meggie Burnett dropped her opening match in the B singles bracket, 6-3, 6-0, but rebounded with an 8-2 victory over Pacific University's Keilyn Futter in the B singles consolation draw. Burnett's run ended the next round, falling 8-2 to eventual B singles consolation champion Hayley Kreps of Lewis & Clark College. 
 
The main singles draw saw Chloe Andrewjeski fall, 6-3, 7-5, to Linfield's Taryn Fujimori while Lilian Nguyen bowed out, 6-1, 6-0.
 
"We went 3-11 overall with Meggie Burnett and Libertad Sarmiento competing on Sunday in the B draw consolations. Our top player Chloe Andrewjeski lost a tight one 3-6, 5-7 with 2 set points and the #5 seed from Linfield Taryn Fujimori in the first round. She has very bright future in this conference and I'm super excited to see what she can accomplish in the coming season."
 
In doubles, Andrewjeski and Nguyen dropped an 8-4 decision in the main draw before ending on the wrong end of a tight 8-6 match in the consolation bracket.
 
The doubles tandem of Sarmiento and Burnett dropped their opening match before falling 8-3 in the consolation round. 
 
"We had great support from several Lute parents which made for a fun atmosphere. I enjoyed getting to know some of the other coaches and learn that traditionally our conference is top 10 in the country in tennis. I look forward to working together to make each other better and continue to represent the Northwest Conference at a national level."