NEWBERG, Ore.—Despite a pair of wins from senior Maca Vives, Lewis & Clark College women's tennis dropped a 6-3 decision to host George Fox University on Saturday at the Bruins Multi-Use Facility.
Vives paired up with fellow senior Rachael Rice for a win at number on doubles and also claimed a victory at third singles.
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KEY MOMENTS
"It definitely wasn't the result that we wanted coming out of today, but there was definite improvement from the first matchup we had at our home courts this year" said head coach Jimmy Chau.
George Fox grabbed a 2-1 lead after doubles play after winning the closest match at third doubles.
The Pioneers duo of Vives and Rice defeated Danielle Brown and Olivia Morris 8-3 to grab a 1-0 advantage.
George Fox responded with an 8-3 win at second doubles. In the final doubles match, Abigail Bond and Elli Mangan barely held off Hayley Kreps and Caren Uribe in an 8-5 decision. The Pioneers pairing fought back from an early hole to get back on serve at 5-6, but ultimately couldn't overcome the Bruins duo.
"I'm really proud of Caren and Hayley for how they dug deep to fight back in that match," Chau said. "We're still learning, but getting stronger with our doubles play every time out."
The Pioneers were extremely competitive at the top of the singles order, but the Bruins won the final three singles matches to clinch the win.
At number one singles, Rice defeated Mangan 6-1 in the first set, only for Mangan to storm back to earn a 1-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory.
Uribe posted a 6-4, 6-4 win at second singles for the Pioneers.
In the tightest match of the day, Vives and Kalli Wiker went to a tiebreaker in the first set and played a match-deciding super tiebreaker in the third. Vives downed Wiker 7-6 (8-6) in the first set, but Wiker tied the match at 1-1 with a 6-0 second-set win. With the match already having reached a decision, the two players went to a third-set super tiebreaker. Vives defeated her Bruins foe 10-8 to secure the third singles win.
"The Bruins are just so consistent top to bottom," Chau commented. "Credit to them for maintaining their high level throughout the afternoon. We definitely improved our results from the earlier matchup this season and we definitely had opportunities to capitalize. We'll learn from this and get better next time out."
DEEPER LOOK
- The two sides met earlier this season in non-conference play, with the Bruins earning a 6-3 road win. Uribe won both times at second singles, but Vives and the Pioneers first doubles pairing both flipped the script from the last time the two sides played.
- Vives has now won four matches in a row (two singles and two doubles). She leads the team with 19 victories this year.
- Uribe became the second Pioneer to post double-digit singles wins this season. The freshman improved to 10-5 on the year with her win at second singles.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Pioneers will return home on Sunday at 11 am to host Willamette University on Senior Day. Lewis & Clark will honor their three seniors, Natalie Kowal, Rice and Vives, prior to the match.
