Pacific 5, Fresno Pacific 2
The defending national champion women's tennis program suffered its first loss since March 16 of last year, falling to some fierce competition against Pacific in Stockton on Sunday.
After seeing the men's team fall earlier in the day it was the Lady Sunbirds' turn to try to overcome an NCAA Division 1 program. The match started slowly for FPU as they quickly lost the doubles point. At number three doubles were Heidi Jackson and Elizabeth McFeeters who were beaten by a score of 8-1.
Next to finish was the number one tandem of Sara Celma and Marie Boura. They went down 8-5 which sealed the doubles point for UOP. Cristina Valladares and Yumiko Justin's 8-4 win at number two was little consolation. With the Sunbirds down by one point they needed to win four of the six singles matches to win the match.
Celma and Jackson both fell quickly at number one and five respectively. This put UOP in a commanding 3-0 lead. However, Justin playing at four singles was able to pull out a win by a score of 6-1 6-3 for the Sunbirds giving them some optimism.
This was short lived as McFeeters was beaten at number six singles 6-0 6-2 to clinch the match for UOP. Boura playing at three, played a good match and took her opportunities to win a close match over Eslami by a score of 7-6 6-4. The Sunbirds were now down 4-2, but Valladares was still battling hard to win. Eventually she lost out at number two singles 6-7, 6-3, 10-2.
The Sunbirds (4-1) return to GSAC play this week, traveling to Biola on Friday.
Doubles:
1. Widjaja/Hansen (PAC) def. Celma/Boura (FP) 8-5
2. Justin/Valladares (FP) def.Irvin/Eslami (PAC) 8-4
3. Gumenyuk/Te (PAC) def. Jackson/McFeeters 8-1
Order of Finish: 3, 1*, 2
Singles:
1. Widjaja (PAC) def. Celma (FP) 6-2, 6-0
2. Hansen (PAC) def. Valladares (FP) 6-7(5), 6-3, 10-2
3. Boura (FP) def. Eslami (PAC) 6-4, 7-6
4. Justin (FP) def. Irvin (PAC) 6-1, 6-3
5. Gumenyuk (PAC) def. Jackson (FP) 6-0, 6-1
6. Te (PAC) def. McFeeters 6-0, 6-2
Order of Finish: 1, 5, 4, 6**, 3, 2
