Sweep Of Doubles Is Trouble As Boxers Fall To Pioneers
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FOREST GROVE – A Lewis & Clark sweep in the doubles proved to be too much for Pacific on Friday as the three wins propelled the Pioneers to a 5-4 win over the Boxers in Northwest Conference men's tennis action at the Holce Tennis Courts.
“This was a really tough loss today,” said Pacific Director of Tennis
Brian Jackson. “We just didn't have it in doubles, which turned out to be the difference. Our singles played much better, and some of our lineup changes worked out, but going down 3-0 in doubles was just too much to overcome.”
Daniel Hahm and Kevin Ross opened the Pioneers' day with a shocker, handing the Boxers' No. 1 tandem of
Troy Zuroske (Jr., Richland, Wash.) and
Giancarlo Battaglia (So., Sherman Oaks, Calif.) an 8-3 loss. Ryotaro Tokura and Lucas Fodor followed by taking the closest match of the three, edging out
Lorne Bulling (Fr., Corvallis, Ore.) and
Brian Kyaw (Fr., South San Francisco, Calif.) 9-7 in the No. 3 flight. Carter Gee-Taylor and Scott Monismith completed the sweep with their 8-3 win over
Alen Suklje (So., Portland, Ore.) and
Kolin Wong (Sr., Captain Cook, Hawaii) at No. 2.
Hahm opened up doubles by putting Pacific on the ropes immediately, allowing
Brandon Schlack (So., Long Beach, Calif.) just one game in a 6-0, 6-1 win in the No. 3 match. Battaglia, playing for the first time in the No. 1 slot, led the Pacific comeback bid with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Ross. Zuroske followed suit with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Gee-Taylor at No. 2. Bulling pulled the Boxers within 4-3 in the team scoring with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Tokura at No. 5.
It was Monismith who won the deciding match for the Pioneers, getting past Suklje in a hard fought 6-4, 6-4 match at No. 4. Wong gave the Boxers their final win of the day with a 6-2, 6-2 decision over Cole Pfeiffer at No. 6.
With the loss, Pacific dropped to 4-7 overall, 4-6 NWC. Lewis & Clark improved to 4-7, 4-5 NWC.
Pacific will host Treasure Valley CC for an exhibition match on Saturday morning before heading to Southern California for three matches against Middlebury on Monday, Caltech on Tuesday and Occidental on Thursday. Lewis & Clark continues NWC play on Saturday against George Fox.
