Jan. 30, 2010

Stockton, Calif. - The Pacific women's tennis team was defeated by Saint Mary's, 6-1 Saturday afternoon after wet court conditions postpone play for one hour. The Tigers fall to 2-2 overall with their first home loss of the season.

Junior Jenifer Widjaja (Sao Roque, Sao Paulo, Brazil) and senior Sasha Fisher (Southampton, Bermuda) took the court in doubles play with Pacific down 1-0. The pair fought hard against Alex Poorta and Clair Soper but fell 8-5 in the Tigers closest doubles match of the day.

Though the win secured the Gaels (1-0) doubles point giving them a 1-0 lead going into singles play, freshman Christina Goehl (Karlsruhe, Germany) partnered with sophomore Sarah Irvin Sarah Irvin (Brisbane, Australia) to earn a win at the No. 3 doubles position, 8-3, preventing Saint Mary's sweep.

No. 60 Widjaja took the court first against Poorta again in No. 1 singles play, this time with different results. Taking the first set 6-4, the junior outlasted Poorta in set two to earn the win 6-1. Widjaja recorded the Tigers only win in the match as the remainder of the team was swept.

Pacific trailed 2-1 when freshman Julia Hansen (Hamburg, Germany) ran out of steam against Anna Chikhikvishvili in the No. 3 position, dropping her match 7-5, 6-2. The Gaels locked in the match with Soper's sweep of Irvin, 6-0, 6-3, at the No. 4 position.

But that did not stop Fisher from battling out in the No. 6 position against Alisa Spitzer. The senior won the first set 6-4 before Spitzer bounced back to grab the second set 6-2. Fisher continued to fight, forcing a tie-break set that Spitzer pulled out by two points 1-0 (8)..

The Tigers are back in action Feb. 6 as they host University of Denver. Match time is set for 11 a.m. PST on the Hal Nelson Tennis Courts.

WOMEN'S TENNIS RESULTS
Saint Mary's 6, Pacific 1
Jan. 30, 2010 in Stockton, Calif. (Hal Nelson Tennis Courts)

Doubles Competition
1. Poorta/Soper (SMC) def. Widjaja/Fisher (PAC) 8-5
2. Chikhikvishvili/Isip (SMC) def. Gumenyuk/Hansen (PAC) 8-2
3. Goehl/Irvin (PAC) def. Strijbis/Fisher (SMC) 8-3

Singles Competition
1. No. 60 Jenifer Widjaja (PAC) def. Alex Poorta (SMC) 6-4, 6-1
2. Catherine Isip (SMC) def. Christina Goehl (PAC) 6-4, 6-2
3. Anna Chikhikvishvili (SMC) def. Julia Hansen (PAC) 7-5, 6-2
4. Clair Soper (SMC) def. Sarah Irvin (PAC) 6-0, 6-3
5. Sabina Gunnarsson (SMC) def. Olga Gumenyuk (PAC) 6-4, 6-2
6. Alisa Spitzer (SMC) def. Sasha Fisher (PAC) 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (8)

Order of Finish:
Doubles: 2, 1, 3
Singles: 1, 5, 3, 4, 2, 6