April 16, 2016 Box Score
STOCKTON, Calif.--The Gonzaga University women's tennis team picked up a record-breaking win Saturday, downing Pacific 4-2 at Eve Zimmerman Tennis Center in Stockton.
The dual win was the Bulldogs' 15th of the season, setting the program record for dual wins in a year. Their previous mark of 14 was set in 2010 when the Zags went 14-7.
"It is great to break our single season record, especially because it is a team accomplishment," said Gonzaga head coach D.J. Gurule. "The girls have worked so hard this year, but they know that we still have a lot of work left to do."
Gonzaga once again began the match by taking the doubles point, their third in a row and 11th of the season. Atop the doubles lineup, Samantha Polayes and Sophie Whittle won the first doubles contest to finish, beating Viktoriya Dzyuba and Anneroos Nederstigt 6-3 for their fourth conference win and fourth in a row. A short time later, Sissi Koehler and Domonique Garley also capped off their fourth win in a row, beating Maayan Sela and Cristina Saenz de Buruaga Ruiz by a similar 6-3 scoreline.
Once singles started, the Tigers tied the dual with a win at No. 1 singles, but sophomore Alex Bourguignon put the Zags back ahead for good with a win over Sabrina Rodriguez on court No. 4. The speedy 6-3, 6-3 win was her 11th on the dual season and 18th overall on the year. Freshman Graciela Rosas then added another point for Gonzaga, winning just one court down from Bourguignon. She beat opponent Yuki Asami by a break at 6-4 in the first set and 6-3 in the second.
With Gonzaga on the brink of victory, the Tigers pulled back within one despite a tough fight from Polayes at No. 2 singles, but Garley gave the Bulldogs a clinching point with a comeback win on court six. Facing Nederstigt, Garley dropped her first set in an extra game at 5-7, but she returned the favor with a 7-5 win in the second. In the third and final set, however, Garley took six of the seven games for the win, picking up her 15th win in a row and Gonzaga's 15th dual victory of the season.
Two matches on the day were left unfinished: Bourguignon and Melanie Yates' No. 2 doubles contest and Nevada Apollo's No. 3 singles contest. The Bulldogs were tied in doubles while Apollo led 4-2 in her third set.
"It was a gritty win today, I was really proud of the team," Gurule said. "They didn't necessarily play their best, but they competed for every point. Pacific is a well-coached team and they competed extremely well."
The Zags (15-3, 5-2 WCC) have two more opportunities to add onto their new school record, including a road contest on Sunday, April 17, with an 11:00 a.m. showdown at Saint Mary's. Gonzaga and the Gaels entered the weekend tied for second in the conference.
