Strong Doubles Flights Lead Boxers To 3rd Straight Win
Box Score
FOREST GROVE – Pacific received three strong wins from it's double flights and a critical No. 4 singles victory from
Lillian Do (Fr., Beaverton, Ore.) as the Boxers won their third straight match with a 5-4 victory over Willamette Saturday in women's tennis action at the Holce Tennis Courts.
The Boxers (4-1, 3-1 NWC) needed every bit of their doubles matches to secure the win as Head Coach Sarah Ansboury had to shuffle the singles lineup for the second straight day due to illness.
Cathlene Goya (Sr., Kaneohe, Hawaii) and
Megan Yoshimoto (Sr., Mililani, Hawaii) opened things with a close 8-6 victory over Sabrina Gutierrez and Shannon Palmer in the No. 1 flight while
Kelsey Trujillo (So., Honolulu, Hawaii) and Do paired for an 8-6 victory over Emily Bee and Denise Poltavski at No. 2.
Rachel Mizuno (Jr., Mililani, Hawaii) and
Amber Craviotto (Fr., Eugene, Ore.) held a 7-2 lead in the No. 3 flight when Emily Funabiki and Katie Huber retired.
Things were not as easy for the Boxers in the singles as the Bearcats (2-2, 0-2 NWC) charged for their shot at the win. Goya took care of things in the No. 1 flight, scoring a 6-1, 6-2 decision over Palmer. But Yoshimoto dropped a 6-2, 6-4 match to Gutierrez at No. 2 and Poltavski was a 6-4, 7-5 winner over Mizuno at No. 3.
It was Do, one of two freshmen to crack the lineup early this season, who was the difference maker for the Boxers at No. 4. Do fought to take a close first set from Huber before cruising in the second set for a 7-5, 6-2 victory to secure the match.
Bee took the No. 5 match from Craviotto, 6-4, 6-4, while Funabiki was a 6-3, 6-2 winner over
Kelsey Lack (So., Grants Pass, Ore.) at No. 6.
After playing three of their first five matches at home, the Boxers will now take to the road for their next three. Pacific makes the eastern Washington swing next week, playing at Whitman on Friday and at Whitworth on Saturday. Willamette is home next Friday to host Lewis & Clark.
