PORTLAND, Ore. – Senior Megan Sporndli went undefeated at singles to lead the Portland Pilots women’s tennis team to a one and one weekend in dual matches, defeating Montana 5-2 before falling to West Coast Conference opponent Santa Clara
5-2, at the Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center.
Following this weekend’s competitions, Portland now sits at 2-4 (0-1 WCC) while UM is 2-5 and SCU improves to 5-1 (2-1 WCC).
The Pilots jumped out strong against Montana, claiming all three doubles competitions to notch the doubles point. Sophomore Tessa Mini and junior Lacey Pflibsen won by the largest margin with a commanding 8-2 result against Heather Davidson and Cara Lehman.
Pflibsen carried the momentum of her doubles win into singles action to defeat Constance Alexander in two straight sets 6-2, 6-3. Mini had more of a battle but pulled off the victory in a third-set tiebreaker against Cara Lehman. Sporndli and freshman Valeska Hoath also earned singles wins for UP against Montana, both in straight sets.
“This weekend showed the results of efforts in practice really have helped everyone improve,” said Portland head coach Susie Campbell-Gross. “There was a lot of heart and gutsy performances on display in our match versus SCU, and especially from Megan (Sporndli), Tessa (Mini) and Stephanie (Fuchs). There were some very close battles. I am proud of our team’s efforts in both matches.”
Against the Broncos, Portland wins came from Sporndli and junior Stephanie Fuchs in singles. Sporndli cruised to a 6-0, 6-3 result against Kelly Lamble, while Fuchs was pushed to a third-set tiebreaker by Carmen Pham.
SCU proved too much for the Pilots in doubles play holding off all three pairs to earn the doubles point and ultimately their third straight win.
Up next, Portland heads to Tri Cities, Wash. to face the Idaho Vandals on Friday, Feb. 26 at 3:00 p.m.
Pilots 5, Montana 2
Portland, Ore. (Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center)
February 19, 2010
Singles
1) PFLIBSEN, Lacey (UP) def. ALEXANDER, Constance (UM) 6-2, 6-3
2) SPORNDLI, Megan (UP) def. BRAN, Amanda (UM) 6-2, 7-6 (7-2)
3) DAVIDSON, Heather (UM) def. DOOLITTLE, Stefanie (UP) 7-5, 6-4
4) HOATH, Valeska (UP) def. GIBSON, Lauren (UM) 6-2, 7-5
5) MOYSE, Kayla (UM) def. FUCHS, Stephanie (UP) 6-1, 6-2
6) MINI, Tessa (UP) def. LEHMAN, Cara (UM) 2-6, 6-3, 10-8
Doubles
1) FUCHS, Stephanie/SPORNDLI, Megan (UP) def. BRAN, Amanda/GIBSON, Lauren (UM) 8-6
2) DOOLITTLE, Stefanie/HOATH, Valeska (UP) def. ALEXANDER, Constance/MOYSE, Kayla (UM) 8-4
3) MINI, Tessa/PFLIBSEN, Lacey (UP) def. DAVIDSON, Heather/LEHMAN, Cara (UM) 8-2
Santa Clara 5, Pilots 2
Portland, Ore. (Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center)
February 20, 2010
Singles
1) Alex Zaniewski (SCU) def. Pflibsen (UP) 6-1, 6-3
2) Sporndli (UP) def. Kelly Lamble (SCU) 6-0, 6-3
3) Maggie McGeorge (SCU) def. Doolittle (UP) 5-7, 6-2, 6-1
4) Jessica Agra (SCU) def. Hoath (UP) 6-1, 6-2
5) Fuchs (UP) def. Carmen Pham (SCU) 7-5, 2-6, 11-9
6) Isabelle Hoy (SCU) def. Mini (UP) 6-4, 0-6, 10-6
Doubles
1) Alex Zaniewski/Jessica Agra (SCU) def. Sporndli/Fuchs (UP) 8-5
2) Carmen Pham/Kimmi Cox (SCU) def. Hoath/Doolittle (UP) 8-1
3) Maggie McGeorge/Kelly Lamble (SCU) def. Pflibsen/Mini (UP) 8-6
