News Release

Pacific Women's Tennis: Tigers Have Big Day at Tourney

(October 17, 2009) - The Pacific womens tennis team was on a roll at the St. Marys Womens Fall Invitational on Friday when two players went down with injuries. The Tigers grabbed five singles and three doubles wins in the first day of competition. Tournament play is set to continue through Sunday.

Second seeded Jenifer Widjaja (Sao Roque, Sao Paulo, Brazil) led the Tigers in wins with three. Breezing through the first round of singles by defeating Portlands Megan Sporndli 6-1, 6-0, the junior then dropped her first set to St. Marys Claire Soper 1-6. She rebounded to win set two 6-4 and outlasted Soper 6-2 in the final set, advancing to the next round.

Widjaja partnered with senior Sasha Fisher (Southampton, Bermuda) to defeat USFs Jessy Mekpoh and Julia Wartenburger 8-1 for her third win of the day.

Junior Kateryna Nezhura (Kiev, Ukraine) also saw success. Partnered with fellow junior Olga Gumenyuk (Kiev, Ukraine), the tandem pulled out a win over Santa Claras Kelly Lamble and Maggie McGeorge 8-5.

In singles play, Nezhura defeated San Jose States Chau Truong 6-2, 6-3 before retiring in the second set of her next match due to injury. Gumenyuk also topped a San Jose State player on her way the next round, taking down Jennifer Williams 6-0, 6-3.

Rounding out the Tigers with wins are freshmen Christina Goehl (Karlsruhe, Germany) and Julia Hansen (Hamburg, Germany). The pair defeated Gonzagas Claire Dodge and Kristina Zauere 9-8 after a six point tie breaker. Goehl then picked up her second win over Santa Claras Kelly Lamble 6-4, 6-2. Hansen unfortunately withdrew from her first singles match due to injury and did not compete the remainder of the day.

St. Marys Womens Fall Invitational

Results Friday, Oct. 16, 2009

Doubles

Red Round of 16: Jenifer Widjaja Sasha Fisher def. Jessy Mekpoh Julia Wartenburger (USF); 8-1

White Round of 16: Kateryna Nezhura Olga Gumenyuk def. Kelly Lamble Maggie McGeorge (SCU); 8-5

White Round of 16: Christina Goehl Julia Hansen def. Claire Dodge Kristina Zauere (GON); 9-8(6)

Singles

Red Round of 32: Stephany Chang [5] (CAL) def. Julie Hansen Withdrew (Injury)

Red Round of 32: Jenifer Widjaja [2] def. Megan Sporndli (POR); 6-1, 6-0

White Round of 32: Christina Goehl def. Kelly Lamble (SCU); 6-4, 6-2

White Round of 32: Kateryna Nezhura def. Chau Truong (SJS); 6-2, 6-3

Red Round of 16: Jenifer Widjaja [2] def. Claire Soper (SM); 1-6, 6-4, 6-2

White Round of 16: Maria Meliuk [1] (SAC) def. Christina Goehl; 7-6(6), 6-1

White Round of 16: Jen Yen (ST) def. Kateryna Nezhura; 6-3, 2-0 Retired (Injury)

Blue Round of 16: Olga Gumenyuk def. Jennifer Williams (SJS); 6-0, 6-3

Blue Round of 16: Gabr. Verspiernen (GON) def. Sasha Fisher; 6-1, 6-2