FRESNO, Calif. - No. 2 Fresno Pacific nearly swept singles play en route to a 7-2 win over No. 5 Point Loma Nazarene at the Haak Tennis Center on Saturday.

Fresno Pacific remains unbeaten in the GSAC with a 5-0 record (6-1 overall), while Point Loma Nazarene falls to 4-2 (3-2 GSAC) on the season.

The Sunbirds began the day by winning four singles matches to take an early 4-0 lead.

Sunbird junior Ashley Sherr (Fresno Christian) had a chance to clinch the team match at No. 6 singles but fell just short in a 6-3, 7-6(5) loss to the Sea Lions' Brittany Hall.

Junior Katia Sabate's gutsy 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles secured the Sunbirds' 41^st straight GSAC victory heading into doubles play.

Fresno Pacific goes on the road next week for two key conference matches.  In a battle of top 5 teams, the 2^nd-ranked Sunbirds visit No. 3 Azusa Pacific on Wednesday, March 4^th at 2:00pm.  On Saturday, March 7^th, Fresno Pacific faces No. 10 Vanguard at the Costa Mesa Tennis Center at 2:00pm.

Box Score:

February 28, 2009

Haak Tennis Center – Fresno, CA

No. 2 Fresno Pacific def. No. 5 Point Loma Nazarene 7-2

Singles:

1.       Katia Sabate (FPU) def. Kristin Strimple (PLN) 7-5, 3-6, 6-2

2.       Ornella Gentile (FPU) def. Kelsey Weir (PLN) 6-0, 6-0

3.       Maria Klokotzky (FPU) def. Rachel Owens (PLN) 6-3, 6-2

4.       Vanessa Heroux (FPU) def. Kim Haynes (PLN) 6-1, 6-2

5.       Elizabeth McFeeters (FPU) def. Taryn Zimmer (PLN) 6-2, 6-2

6.       Brittany Hall (PLN) def. Ashley Sherr (FPU) 6-3, 7-6(5)

*Denotes clinching match - Order of finish: 2, 4, 5, 3, 6, 1*

Doubles:

1.       Vanessa Heroux/Katia Sabate (FPU) def. Kim Haynes/Kristin Strimple (PLN) 8-3

2.       Ornella Gentile/Elizabeth McFeeters (FPU) def. Rachel Owens/Kelsey Weir (PLN)  9-8(4)

3.       Samantha Mohr/Isabella Tumini (PLN) def. Brittany Salley/Ashley Sherr (FPU) 8-2

Order of finish – 1, 3, 2

Records: Fresno Pacific (6-1, 5-0 GSAC)