FOREST GROVE, Ore.—Lewis & Clark College women's tennis fell behind early and couldn't climb all the way out of the hole in a 5-4 conference loss to host Pacific University on Sunday. 

Senior captain Maca Vives went 2-0 in the match to lead the Pioneers. 

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KEY MOMENTS 

Led by the combination of Cassidy and Sydnie Binder, Pacific took a 2-1 lead after doubles and won three of the top four singles matches to earn the narrow victory. 

"We fought an uphill battle today in many ways," head coach Jimmy Chau said. "The Boxers make it very to overcome all the challenges." 

Pacific leapt out to a 2-0 lead with an 8-0 win at number one doubles and an 8-2 victory at second doubles. 

In the third doubles match, Arielle Bloom and Vives combined for a huge 8-6 victory. 

The Binder sisters pushed the advantage to 4-1 with wins at number one and number two singles. 

Vives kept the Pioneers alive in the match with a hard-fought 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 three-set win over Valentina Casab-Klescova at third singles.  

"It was great to see Maca out there fighting her heart out for the team," Chaus said. "Less than 24 hours earlier, she had to retire from her match due to extreme exhaustion. Nothing would stop her today knowing that team still had a chance to win." 

The Boxers clinched the victory at number four singles when Grace Troung knocked off Bloom 6-3, 6-2. 

Lewis & Clark College claimed each of the final two singles matches. 

At fifth singles, Eadie Poulsen downed Jessica Eligio 6-2, 6-0. Hayley Kreps added a 6-4, 6-2 at number six singles. 

DEEPER LOOK

• Vives became the first Pioneer to win double-double singles matches this season (10-5). She leads the Pioneers in singles wins and is tied with Rachael Rice for the team lead in doubles wins (seven). 
• In the four matches between the two teams over the past two seasons (each team has won twice), all three have finished 6-3 or 5-4 and Lewis & Clark hold a slim 19-17 edge in matches won. 
• Kreps snapped a two-match singles losing streak with her win at sixth singles and is now 6-2 on the season in singles. 
• Vives and Bloom earned their first win as a doubles pairing. 

LOOKING AHEAD 

Women's Tennis will be off for two weeks, before traveling to take on George Fox University on Saturday, April 2 at 11 a.m.