SPOKANE, Wash. – After quickly taking a 3-0 lead, Gonzaga women's tennis grinded out a 4-1 victory over Pacific on Saturday at the Stevens Center.

The Bulldogs (9-7 overall, 2-1 WCC) pounced on the Tigers early as Emily Robertson/Ella Nielsen cruised 6-1 in doubles, improving to an 8-2 record when paired up this spring season. Norhan Hesham/Safien Boulonois prevailed 6-4 to claim the initial point for the home team. Rose Hayes/Lia Espinal led 5-3 when the dual moved to singles.

Riding that momentum, Gonzaga's top two singles contenders routed their opponents to take a 3-0 advantage in the overall match. Robertson triumphed 6-3, 6-0, while Hesham won decisively 6-1, 6-2.

The remaining singles matches were tightly contested, with all but one including a tiebreaker or third set. In the exception, Hayes rallied from a second-set deficit to win 6-1, 7-5 and clinch the match for the Zags.

When Hayes secured the clinching point, Nielsen and Indiya McLeod were in the middle of a rally, with the visitor leading 6-5 in a deciding tiebreaker. McLeod won the point to take the bout 6-2, 7-6 (5) and get the Tigers on the board in the waning seconds.

The dual ended with Boulonois leading 5-4 in her third set and Espinal battling a second-frame tiebreaker after taking the first set.

UP NEXT: The Bulldogs continue WCC play with a road dual against Loyola Marymount next Sunday (April 6).

MATCH NOTES
- GU women's tennis is now 9-7 overall and 2-1 in WCC play this dual season, with other wins over Michigan State, Eastern Washington, New Mexico State, New Mexico, Air Force, Montana, Seattle, and Saint Mary's.
- The Bulldogs are 7-2 at the Stevens Center.
- Pacific is now 4-10 overall and 0-2 in conference play.
- The Tigers face No. 52 Washington State in Pullman tomorrow (March 30) morning.

DOUBLES NOTES
- Emily Robertson/Ella Nielsen improved to 8-2 when paired up this spring season, while Norhan Hesham/Safien Boulonois boosted their record to 6-3.
- The Zags are 24-15 overall in doubles matches.
- Robertson's 11-3 doubles record leads the Bulldogs, followed by Boulonois (9-4), Hesham (9-5), and Nielsen (8-4).
- Last weekend against then-ranked No. 57 Washington State, Emily Robertson/Ella Nielsen defeated Eva Alvarez/Maxine Murphy, who were then-ranked No. 41 nationally as a doubles team.

3/29 Dual Results:
Gonzaga 4, Pacific 1

Doubles
1. Emily Robertson/Ella Nielsen def. Megan Carmichael/Maggie Hoe (PAC), 6-1
2. Rose Hayes/Lia Espinal vs. Indiya McLeod/Alexis Sam (PAC), 5-3 (unfinished)
3. Norhan Hesham/Safien Boulonois def. Milena Maiorova/Rayna Sugai (PAC), 6-4
Order of Finish: 1, 3

Singles
1. Emily Robertson def. Megan Carmichael (PAC), 6-3, 6-0
2. Norhan Hesham def. Milena Maiorova (PAC), 6-1, 6-2
3. Indiya McLeod (PAC) def. Ella Nielsen, 6-2, 7-6 (5)
4. Rose Hayes def. Alexis Sam (PAC), 6-1, 7-5
5. Safien Boulonois vs. Rayna Sugai (PAC), 6-1, 3-6, 5-4 (unfinished)
6. Lia Espinal vs. Nahreen Cheam (PAC), 6-2, 6-6 (unfinished)
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 4, 3