Box ScoreFOREST GROVE – Pacific used solid play in the singles to overcome a 2-1 doubles deficit Sunday, rallying to take a 5-4 women's tennis victory over College of Idaho in the Boxers' season opener at the Holce Tennis Courts.
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Down 2-1 after dropping the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles matches, the Boxers saw
Kaitlyn Lomartire (So., Portland, Ore.) and
Jelena Vidovic (Fr., Vancouver, Wash.) in the No. 1 and 2 singles flights, along with
Mai Kobayashi (Fr., Waikoloa, Hawaii) and
Carlee Rhodaback (Jr., Albany, Ore.) at No. 4 and 5, take straight set wins to give Pacific the win.
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"We are happy to get this win today to start the season off right," said Pacific Head Coach
Brian Jackson.  "There were a lot of nerves out there as four first-year players saw action today, but we are proud of the players in how they pulled through. All in all, I am really happy with how we competed today and believe that today's match will go a long way in making us better as we learn to overcome the nerves and play up to our ability."
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Lomatire and Kobayashi opened the morning with a solid win at No. 1 doubles, taking down Shae Shults and Allie Boyd 8-2. The Yotes, though, came back to take wins at No. 2 and No. 3 to take the early 2-1 lead. Erin Huffman and Megan Huffman downed Vidovic and
Sidney Smith (Fr., Olympia, Wash.), 9-7, at No. 2. Vanessa Almaraz and Laura Humphreys were winners at No. 3, 8-2, over Rhodaback and
Danielle Wicks (Jr., Phoenix, Ariz.).
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Lomartire and Vidovic led the comeback in the top singles flights. Lomartire allowed only two games to Stults in collecting a 6-2, 6-0 win at No, 1, while Vidovic allowed only a pair of games in a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Boyd in the No. 2 flight. Kobayashi looked solid in her spring season opener, scoring a 6-1, 6-3 win over Laura Humphreys at No. 4. Rhodaback scored a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Erin Huffman at No. 5, securing the win for the Boxers.
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Megan Huffman and Almaraz collected the singles wins for the Yotes. Megan Huffman was a 7-5, 7-6 (7-1) winner over Smith at No. 3 while Almaraz was a 7-5, 6-3 winner over Kenani Kea (Fr., Mililani, Hawaii) at No. 6.
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Pacific jumps right into Northwest Conference next weekend. The Boxers open up in eastern Washington, playing at Whitworth on Saturday and Whitman on Sunday.
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