Boxscore

By Jimmy Chau

PORTLAND, OR.

Upper classmen lead the way, as the Pios start their 2011 campaign with a win against a much improved and young University of Puget Sound squad.  The Pioneers used a sweep in doubles to cruise to a 6-3 win. 

With the unusual later starting time, the number one duo of Amalia Nilsson and Izzy Borris made fairly quick work of their opponents with a 8-1 win.  The second doubles flights would be much tighter as the freshman duo of Logan Thompson and Marissa Friedman would stay neck and neck with Lewis and Clark's Whitney DeBree and Jill Coleman until the pair of Pios broke serve to clinch the flight 8-6.  Almost simultaneously, LC's own freshman duo of Olivia Sweetman and Makena McCluskey, would clinch their match 8-4.

Pio seniors, Nilsson and DeBree, would clinch the match for the Pioneers as they would roll to easy victories over Maddison Holtz and Maddie Thiesse.  Borris would follow suit a little later with a toughly contested 6-4, 6-1 win.  The next two singles matches would go an entirely different direction though with seemingly easy wins for the Loggers.  Thompson and Ada Yu would frustrate their opponents and win easily with scores of 6-1, 6-1 and 6-3, 6-1 victories.  Playing late into the evening, after the crowds cleared out, Sweetman and Friedman would epitomize the beauty of Division III collegiate athletics.   With the match already decided, the pair would go the distance using every inch of the court.  Trading drop shots and lobs and throwing every shot in between, the two would battle all the way to a match breaker in which Friedman would win 10-8.  Coach Tilmanis thought it was a good start for the Pios but everyone agreed there was much work to be done if the Pios would be a threat to win it this season. 

The Pios take on two-time defending champion Whitworth University next on Feb. 18 at the LC Tennis Dome.