Official NWC Release

HILLSBORO, Ore. — The Pacific Lutheran University women's tennis program heads into the 2023 season ranked eighth in the Northwest Conference Coaches' Poll released earlier this month. 

The Lutes amassed 14 points in the poll which puts them in eighth place, holding a four-point advantage on ninth-ranked Willamette University. Pacific Lutheran trails University of Puget Sound in the preseason poll by seven points with the Loggers occupying seventh place with 21 points.

Whitman College is the conference favorite in first place with 64 points. They received 8 of the 9 first place votes.  Hot on their tails is Linfield University with 57 points, receiving the lone remaining 1st place vote. The Wildcats earned the NWC's automatic bid to the national tournament last year which was their second straight bid.

Whitworth University, Lewis & Clark College and Pacific University occupy the four through six spots in the preseason poll. The team's have 40, 36, and 34 points in a tight race in the middle of the pack.

Pacific Lutheran placed 8th in the NWC last season.  Conference play starts up on March 11th when the Lutes square off with the Loggers in Tacoma.  The NWC Tournament will take place April 22-23rd at the #1 seed.

The Lutes opened up the 2023 campaign on January 30th when they went to Arizona to play four dual matches, finishing the trip with a 3-1 record. PLU's next match is a non-conference dual with crosstown rival Puget Sound on Feb. 15.