FRESNO, Calif. — The Fresno Pacific tennis teams secured dual 5-2 victories over Menlo College (9-5) on Thursday at the Haak Tennis Complex. FPU's nationally ranked women's tennis team defeated the No. 32 Oaks early in the morning, before the men wrapped up their day with a similar 5-2 result.
To start the day, the Lady 'Birds captured the doubles point and dominated singles play with four victories. The stellar doubles team of #31 Fabi Gonzalez and Yume Ueoku defeated Dziewiecka and Harper 6-1 on court one, while Halle Faherty and Jessica McLean clinched the point with a 6-2 win over Nikolova and Jovic. Menlo managed a win at No. 3 doubles, as Hidass and Robilliart narrowly edged out Margarita Munoz and Malia Mitchell 4-2.
In singles, FPU extended its lead as Faherty defeated Harper 6-1, 6-0 on court three. Menlo responded with Robilliart's 6-1, 6-1 win over Munoz at No. 5 singles. Gonzalez added another point for FPU by overcoming Hidass 6-2, 6-3 at No. 2 singles. Mitchell then secured a hard-fought victory at No. 6 singles, winning 7-6(4), 7-6(5) against Nikolova, clinching the match for the Sunbirds. Ueoku further extended the lead for the Sunbirds with a 6-2, 7-6 win over #70 Dziewiecka on court one, continuing her undefeated streak. Menlo managed their second singles point when Jovic defeated McLean 4-6, 6-3, 10-3, but it was not enough to overcome the Sunbirds' dominant performance.
Later in the day, FPU men's tennis secured the doubles point with wins on courts two and one.
Emilio Seelbach and
Jordi Gonzalez claimed a 6-2 victory at number two doubles over Erkin T. Moghaddam and Galien Del Vecchio, followed by
Cedric Kaufmann and
Joaquin Salinas who edged out Robin McAlpine and David Espinosa Navarro, 7-6, at No. 1 doubles. Although Menlo was able to capture No. 3 doubles with Henry Riccioni-Brown and Duarte Brito defeating
Tim Bangert and
Felix Devallius, 6-3.
In singles action, Menlo initially took the lead with victories on courts three and one. Navarro defeated Angel Espana 6-2, 6-2, and McAlpine followed with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Kaufmann. The Sunbirds quickly responded with Seelbach's straight-sets win, 6-4, 6-1, against Riccioni-Brown on court two. The Sunbirds moved ahead as Bangert added a point at No. 5 singles, winning 6-3, 6-3 over Del Vecchio. Gonzalez extended the lead with a 6-1, 6-2 result over Tijl Forger at No. 4 singles, securing the overall victory for the 'Birds the second time this week. Salinas had a three-set triumph, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, against Robinson Pelluault on court six to wrap up the day.
The Lady 'Birds are 8-4 overall and the Sunbird men are 3-5 overall.
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