Boxers Hold On For Tight 5-4 Victory Over Pioneers
Box Score
PORTLAND – Pacific received clutch matches from the lower part of the singles lineup, including a three-set thriller from
Clark Wininger (Fr., San Francisco, Calif.), as the Boxers pulled out a 5-4 win over Lewis & Clark in Northwest Conference men's tennis action at the LC Tennis Dome.
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Despite taking two of the three doubles matches, the Boxers (5-2, 4-1 NWC) found themselves against the wall after the Pioneers (3-6, 3-4 NWC) took the top two flights of singles. After
Troy Zuroske (Sr., Richland, Wash.) dropped a three-set decision to Michael Brewer in the No. 1 flight, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, the match came down to Wininger at No. 6, who held off a second-set loss to down Scott Monismith, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
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"It was an unbelievably intense match, but our depth came through once again," said Pacific Head Coach
Brian Jackson. "Although we didn't play our best tennis, I am so proud of our guys fighting through. Lewis & Clark deserves so much credit for the way they played. They are a very talented young team that will be making waves for years to come."
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Brennan Faith (Fr., Redondo Beach, Calif.) and
Josh Bernstein (Fr., Novato, Calif.) picked up Pacific's other two singles wins. Faith was a 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 winner over Daniel Hahm at No. 3 while Bernstein scored a 6-1, 6-0 decision over Cameron Smith at No. 5.
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The Pioneers' Kevin Ross scored a 6-2, 6-4 decision over
Giancarlo Battaglia (Jr., Sherman Oaks, Calif.) and Morgan Joyce was a 6-3, 6-3 winner over
Grayson Frazier (Jr., La Canada, Calif.) in the No. 4 match.
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In doubles, Zuroske and Battaglia improved to 4-2 on the season with an 8-2 win over Brewer and Cameron Smith while Faith and Frazier paired for a 9-7 win over Hahm and Joyce at No. 2. In a tightly-played third flight, Ross and Parker Nichols prevailed in a tiebreaker to beat
Alen Suklje (Jr., Beaverton, Ore.) and
Reuben Mulhern (Fr., Boise, Idaho) 9-8 (7-2).
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After four matches away from home, Pacific returns to the Holce Courts on Saturday to host Willamette at noon.