By Tim Heiduk
February 23, 2020
 
(FRESNO, Calif.) The Westmont women's tennis team's two match winning streak came to an end with a 7-0 loss to NCAA Division II Fresno Pacific on Saturday.
 
"I am proud of the fight our women had," Westmont head coach Ellie Johnson said. "Everyone played hard start to finish. Areas needing development were exposed, which is why we play these out of conference matches."
 
Fresno Pacific took the point available in doubles after winning all three matches. Mariia Borodii and Lea Falentin defeated Cade Pierson and Emily Peterson at number one, 6-0. Ioanna Lathouri and Alice Di Matteo took down Rachal Jackson and Christine Hemry at number two, 6-2. Sanne Brull and Alice Marques won 6-0 against Sidney Lowry and Ana Negri at number three.
 
"Sidney and Ana made some excellent adjustments to elongate the points in doubles," Johnson said.
 
In singles, Pierson and Hemry both lost three-setters to their respective opponents. At number one, Pierson won the first set against Falentin 6-2, before dropping the second 2-6 and falling in a third-set tiebreak, 8-10. At number five, Hemry rebounded from a 0-6 loss in the first set to win the second one, 6-2, but fell in the third set, 2-6.
 
"Cade had a close battle and as always she fought until the end," Johnson said. "Christine really settled in toward the end of the first set and took control in the second. She was playing solid, smart and assertive tennis."
 
Lowry was the next closest Warrior, winning three games in the first set and four in the second set before falling to Di Matteo. Borodii defeated Peterson at number two, 6-2, 6-3, while Lathouri beat Jackson, 6-2, 6-0, at number three. Brull, at number six, took down Ava Verchimak, 6-0, 6-0.
 
"We were challenged and our women battled," Johnson said. "We will use this going into a week of practice before San Diego Christian."
 
The Warriors, ranked 14th in the NAIA, host the Hawks, ranked 20th, on Friday at 1:00 p.m. in a matchup of the two nationally ranked Golden State Athletic Conference teams.