Feb. 8, 2008

Portland, Ore. - Kristen MacWilliam, of the Gonzaga University women's tennis team, posted a big win at No. 5 singles to lift the Zag's over Portland State University 4-3 Friday while playing on the campus of the University of Portland in Portland, Ore.

With the victory, the Zags even their spring record at 2-2, while the Vikings fall to 0-3.

Portland State jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage after taking two-of-three doubles matches. The Vikings' Molly Knox and Lacey Pflibsen earned the first doubles victory with an 8-5 win over Emily Anderson and Aglaya Kokurina at the No. 1 position. Portland State's Stephanie Fuchs and Anya Dalkin posted at 8-4 victory over Erin Humphrey and Rika Mehndiratta at No. 3. The Bulldogs avoided the sweep thanks to an 8-5 victory by Clare Dodge and Sydney Lederhouse over Caitlin Stocking and Alyssa Ferry at No. 2.

The Vikings extended their lead with the start of singles play. Pfilbsen gave the Vikings a 2-0 edge with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Anderson at the top spot. The Zags narrowed the scored to 2-1 at No. 2 thanks to a straight-set, 6-1, 6-3, Kokurina victory over Fuchs. Portland State earned its third point at the No. 3 position thanks to a 6-4, 6-3 Knox victory over Lederhouse.

Gonzaga rallied at the No. 4, 5 and 6 positions to earn the win. Dodge opened the rally at No. 4 with a 6-3, 6-3 straight-set victory over Dalkin. Danielle Farmer then tied the match 3-3 with a 6-0, 6-2 defeat of Stocking at No. 6.

The outcome of the afternoon boiled down to the decision of the No. 5 match. The match, which lasted four hours, featured the Zags' MacWilliam and Portland State's Ferry. MacWilliam, who was battling flu-like symptoms, opened by earning the first set 6-4. Ferry then battled back to take the second set 7-6 (3) before MacWilliam earned the victory for the Bulldogs with a 7-5 third set.

"Kristen continued to fight through the entire match," commented head coach DJ Gurule. "She showed true determination and an incredible competitive attitude."

The Zags return to the courts Saturday when they face St. Mary's College in Portland at 9 a.m.

Gonzaga 4, Portland State 3
2/8/08 - Portland, Ore.
Doubles:
Knox/Pflibsen def Anderson/Kokurina 8-5
Dodge/Lederhouse def Stocking/Ferry 8-6
Fuchs/Dalkin def. Humphrey/Mehndiratta  8-4
Order of finish
1, 2, 3
Singles:
Pflibsen def Anderson 6-1, 6-4
Kokurina def Fuchs 6-1, 6-3
Knox def Lederhouse 6-4, 6-3
Dodge def Dalkin 6-3, 6-3
MacWilliam def Ferry 6-4, 6-7(3), 7-5
Farmer def Stocking 6-0, 6-2
Order of finish
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 5