Whitworth Women Rally Past Pacific

SPOKANE, Wash. – Defending Northwest Conference champion Whitworth rallied from a deficit following the doubles matches to defeat visiting Pacific (Ore.) 6-3 in a Northwest Conference women's tennis match on Saturday afternoon.

The Pirates improved to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in the NWC.  The Boxers slipped to 4-3, 3-3.

Pacific looked ready to post an upset after taking a 2-1 lead following the doubles matches.  The first point went to Whitworth when Saryn Mooney and Claire Hemming swept to an 8-0 win over Rachel Mizuno and Amber Craviotto at #3.  But the Boxers followed closely with an 8-3 win at #2 by Kelsey Trujillo and Lillian Do over Megan Wingfield and Jessi Steele.

The #1 doubles match was closely contested.  Cat Goya and Megan Yoshimoto jumped to a 5-1 lead before Whitworth's Alli Marshall and Erica Bosman rallied to pull within 6-5 and on-serve.  But the Boxers broke the Pirates' serve one final time to win 8-6.

Whitworth was able to tie the match after the top three singles.  Bosman defeated Yoshimoto 6-1, 6-1 at #2 to pull the Pirates even.  Goya topped Marshall 6-3, 6-3 at #1 singles to give Pacific the lead for the final time.  Mooney doubled up Mizuno 6-2, 6-2 to pull Whitworth even again.

The Bucs' depth showed well in the bottom three singles matches.  Steele blanked Do 6-0, 6-0 at #5 to give Whitworth its first lead.  Siri Carlson beat Kelsey Lack 6-2, 6-1 at #6 to clinch the team win for the Pirates.  Wingfield held off Trujillo 6-2, 6-4 for Whitworth's final point.