Boxscore
by Jimmy Chau
PORTLAND, OR.-
In the second match of a back to back for the Pioneers and Boxers, Lewis & Clark comes out on top again in another 5-4 win. Although not as dramatic as the day before, the two teams played their hearts out in a struggle to finish the year strong.
Doubles play was the key today for the Pioneers as their top players' experience proved to be invaluable. Senior Whitney DeBree and Jill Coleman turned the tides on the Boxers today in a determined effort to not repeat yesterday's lackluster performance. The two decided early on to play more aggressively and with a higher intensity to take it home with an 8-4 win. Kelsey Trujillo continued to shine this weekend as she and her partner Traci Mo took an 8-4 decision over Makena McCluskey and Olivia sweetman to tie the dual match at one a piece. With the singles decisions so close yesterday, the last doubles point would be a great momentum builder for either team. Partnered with Izzy Borris' sharp drop volleys, Amalia Nilsson pounded every ball she saw from the baseline to drive the team to a 9-8 (3) win over Cat Goya and Megan Yoshimoto.
Borris continue her strong play in another win over Rachel Mizuno with a 6-2, 6-2 win. Heralded senior, Nilsson wouldn't need three sets today as she battled a pesky Goya in a drawn out 6-3, 6-2 win to put the Pioneers a point away from clinching the team contest. The Boxers though had a very different outcome in mind as Yoshimoto battled a motivated DeBree in a back and forth three set victory, 6-1, 7-5, 6-0. Down a set in the #5 singles slot and splitting sets in the #4 flight, the Pioneers were looking at an upset in the making. Luckily, Makena McCluskey would turn in another dominating performance to secure the match for the Pios with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Traci Mo to finish her season with a three match win streak. The Boxers would finish off the victories at #4, Trujillo over Coleman, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4 and #5, Stephanie Villegas over Sweetman, 6-4, 6-4 to make the final tally 5-4. It was a fitting win for the Pioneers as they sent their beloved coach, Gundars Tilmanis off into retirement as a victor in his last match on the hill.
The current Pioneer women's team will join up with their cohorts on the men's side in a mixed doubles match against an All-Star alumni team on Tuesday April 12th at 6pm.
