PLU 9, Whitworth 0

SPOKANE - Pacific Lutheran won every singles and doubles match on Friday to defeat Northwest Conference opponent Whitworth, 9-0, in its 2009 season opener. The Pirates fell to 0-2 this season.

The Lutes opened with three consecutive doubles wins. Kevin Floyd and Joel Trudel beat Michael Shelton and Joe Wales, 8-5, in a hard-fought match at No. 1 doubles. Michael Manser and Justin Peterson were 8-4 victors at No. 2 and Scott Sheldon and Chris Dew had an easier 8-3 win at No. 3.

Trudel, a transfer from the University of Idaho, defeated Whitworth's Shelton 6-2, 6-2 in No. 1 singles play. Floyd and Wales played a marathon at No. 2 singles before Floyd pulled out a 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-6) win.

Other PLU singles winners were Manser at No. 3, Peterson at No. 4, James Crosetto at No. 5 and Sheldon at No. 6.

The Lutes play a couple of very tough opponents on Saturday in Walla Walla, meeting defending conference champion and nationally ranked Whitman at 9 a.m., and then going head-to-head with nationally ranked NAIA foe Lewis-Clark State at 2 p.m.