EUGENE, Ore. — A pair of victories highlighted the first match of the spring season for the University of Portland women’s tennis team as the Pilots dropped a 6-1 decision to the Oregon Ducks.
Teaming up for the first time in college sisters Sabine and Stephanie Fuchs won their doubles match 8-6 over Oregon’s Julia Metzger and Rabea Stueckemann. Sabine, a sophomore transfer from the University of Oregon, made her Pilots debut with the doubles victory.
Portland senior Lacey Pflibsen teamed with freshman Alice Tucker, making her debut for the Pilots, to do battle with Pavlina Smatova and Patricia Skowronski. The Oregon pair, ranked No. 59 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s doubles rankings, bested the Pilots No. 1 pair 8-5.
Oregon won the doubles point with another tightly contested 8-5 victory at the No. 3 doubles position.
In singles action the Pilots picked up a lone point as sophomore Valeska Hoath won a decisive match (6-1, 6-3) over Pascale Neubert of Oregon at the No. 6 singles.
“A solid start to the season,” said Pilots head coach Susie Campbell-Gross. “We saw some positive things in today’s match with Oregon and will look to build on it from here on out. Gutsy performance from both Sabine and Stephanie Fuchs in the doubles and a decisive win for Valeska Hoath at No. 6."
Portland returns to action Saturday as it plays host to UC Davis in the Pilots home opener at the Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center.
Singles
No. 1: Pavlina Smatova def. Lacey Pflibsen 6-0, 6-0
No. 2: Julia Metzger def. Sabine Fuchs 6-2, 6-2
No. 3: Patricia Skowronski def. Alice Tucker 6-2, 6-1
No. 4: Trudie du Toit def. Stephanie Fuchs 7-6 (7-5), 7-5
No. 5: Rabea Stueckemann def. Beate Valdmane 5-7, 6-2, (10-6)
No. 6: Valeska Hoath def. Pascale Neubert 6-1, 6-3
Doubles
No. 1: Smatova/Skowronski def. Pflibsen/Tucker 8-5
No. 2: Fuchs/Fuchs def. Metzger/Stueckemann 8-6
No. 3: du Toit/Cavan def. Hoath/Valdmane 8-5
