Los Angeles, Calif. – The Portland Pilots women’s tennis team posted a win and two losses on a three-match swing through California, in it’s final dual competitions leading up to the West Coast Conference tournament. Playing with just five players, Portland nabbed a 4-3 win over WCC opponent Loyola Marymount but fell 7-0 to UC Santa Barbara and 4-0 to Cal State Northridge.

 

The results move Portland’s overall record to 6-13 and 1-4 against WCC foes. LMU now sits at 4-16 (0-5 WCC) while UCSB's record improves to 11-10 and CSUN moves to 11-7 overall.

 

The Pilots victory over LMU is the first time in the history of the women’s tennis program.

 

“This win is a fantastic ending to the regular season after many rough patches,” said head coach Susie Campbell-Gross. “Lacey Pflibsen and Valeska Hoath earned solid wins at the No. 2 and No. 5 single spots. Doolittle put up a tough fight at the No. 4 for us. Especially impressive were the come-from-behind victories by Megan Sporndli and Stephanie Fuchs.”

 

Senior Megan Sporndli posted an epic come-from-behind win against LMU’s Jasmin Heckel at the No. 1 singles spot. Down the first set, Sporndli rallied to claim the next two sets for the 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(5) victory.  
 

Similarly, junior Stephanie Fuchs got off to a slow start in the No. 3 singles match falling 1-6 in the first set. Fuchs then launched a comeback to win the second set 7-5 and eventually securing the win in three sets.

 

Portland’s doubles duo of Sporndli and Pflibsen won the face-off at the No. 1 spot, 8-3, but LMU would claim the doubles point with a win at the No. 2 and a default by UP at the No. 3. UP’s impressive play in singles would secure the overall team win, 4-3.

 
The Sporndli and Pflibsen team are undefeated in WCC doubles action (3-0).

At UCSB, Sporndli gave the Gauchos their biggest challenge forcing Natalia Lozano to three sets. Lozano easily won the first set 6-0, then built a 4-1 advantage in the second before Sporndli rallied to claim the set, 4-6. But Lozano would rebound to earn a 7-5 victory in the final set to give the Gauchos a sweep.

 

Against CSUN, the Matadors claimed the doubles point and two singles wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots. Their wins combined with the forfeit at the No. 6 singles match, gave CSUN the 4-0 victory. Sporndli, junior Stephanie Doolittle and freshman Valeska Hoath all competed in singles play, but did not finish their respective matches because the Matadors had already clinched the victory.

 

Up next for the Pilots is the WCC Championships in San Diego, Calif. on April 23-25.

 

 

UCSB 7, Pilots 0

Santa Barbara, Calif.

April 16, 2010

 

Singles

1. Sofia Novak (UCSB) def. Lacey Pfibsen (UP) - 6-3, 6-2

2. Natalia Lozano (UCSB) def. Megan Sporndli (UP) - 6-0, 4-6, 7-5

3. Tova Hausman (UCSB) def. Stephanie Fuchs (UP) - 6-2, 6-0

4. Jill Damion (UCSB) def. Stefanie Doolittle (UP) - 6-4, 6-1

5. Annabel Gledden (UCSB) def. Valeska Hoath (UP) - 6-1, 6-2

6. Bryanna Ojeda (UCSB) def. Tessa Mini (UP) – Default

Order of finish: 6, 3, 5, 1, 4, 2

 

Doubles

1. Hausman/Ojeda (UCSB) def. Sporndli/Pflibsen (UP) - 8-3

2. Jordan Dockendorf/Lozano (UCSB) def. Hoath/Doolittle (UP) - 8-6

3. Asagi Onaga/Damion (UCSB) def. Fuchs/Mini (UP) - Default

Order of finish: 3, 1, 2

 

 

 

CSUN 4, Pilots 0

Northridge, Calif. (Matador Tennis Complex)

April 17, 2010

Singles

1. Nina Jaworowski (CSUN) vs. Megan Sporndli (UP), uf

2. Brooke Doane (CSUN) def. Lacey Pflibsen (UP), 7-5, 6-2

3. Nigora Sirojiddinova (CSUN) def. Stephanie Fuchs (UP), 6-4, 6-1

4. Whitney Paluch (CSUN) vs. Stephanie Doolittle (UP), uf

5. Maria Pistalu (CSUN) vs. Valeska Hoath (UP), uf

6. CSUN def. UP by default

 

Doubles

1. Brooke Doane/Anna Yang (CSUN) def. Lacy Pflibsen/Megan Sporndli (UP), 8-1.

2. Nina Jaworowski/Whitney Paluch (CSUN) def. Valeska Hoath/Stefanie Doolittle (UP), 4-0 (2)

3. CSUN def. UP by default

 

Match Notes

The No. 2 slot did not play to eight games because the match at the No. 1 spot had completed, thus securing the doubles point for CSUN.

 

 

 

Pilots 4, LMU 3

Los Angeles, Calif.

April 18, 2010

 

Singles

1. Megan Sporndli (UP) def. Jasmin Heckel (LMU) 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (5)

2. Lacey Pflibsen (UP) def. Melissa Valenzuela (LMU) 6-4, 6-3

3. Stephanie Fuchs (UP) def. Shuana Morgan (LMU) 1-6, 7-5, 6-4

4. Elisaveta Pironkova (LMU) def. Stefanie Doolittle (UP) 7-5, 6-4

5. Valeska Hoath (UP) def. Bliss Nixon (LMU) 6-4, 6-4

6. Audrey Bulkely (LMU) won by default

 

Doubles?

1. Megan Sporndli/Lacey Pflibsen, (UP) def. Bliss Nixon/Shuana Morgan, (LMU) 8-3

2. Jasmin Heckel/Elisaveta Pironkova (LMU) def. Stephanie Fuchs/Stefanie Doolittle (UP) 8-5

3. Melissa Valenzuela/Audrey Bulkley (LMU) won by default