EUGENE, Ore.--- It went right down to the wire, but in the end No. 67 Oregon rallied to claim a dramatic 4-3 win over No. 45 Arizona, Sunday out at the Student Tennis Center in Eugene.
For Arizona (13-7, 3-6 Pac-12), the match marks just its second one-point loss of the season.
Things looked promising early in doubles play for the Wildcats, as Laura Oldham and Devin Chypyha jumped all over the Ducks' tandem of Lina Akesson and Paloma Gomez, claiming an 8-4 victory on court three.
But Oregon (9-10, 3-6 Pac-12) responded with a victory on court two, as Marlou Kluiving and Nicole Long topped Inge Hendrikx and Lauren Marker 8-4 to knot things up. The Ducks then clinched the doubles point, as Nia Rose and Alyssa Tobita rallied to defeat the No. 23 doubles team in the nation, in Briar Preston and Shayne Austin, 8-5.
However, Arizona snatched the momentum right back in singles play, as it rattled off three consecutive victories to take a 3-1 lead.
No. 83 Preston came through from the No. 2 spot, as she blew past Tobita, 6-1, 6-3 to tie things up at 1-1. Austin soon followed suit, as she claimed a straight-set, 6-3, 6-3 win over Akesson from the No. 5 position to spot the Wildcats their first lead of the day at 2-1.
Then it was No. 53 Marker who put Arizona on the brink of victory, as she notched her fifth ranked win of the season, taking down No. 90 Rose 6-2, 6-1, extending the Wildcat advantage to 3-1.
But that would be the last win Arizona would get, as Oregon responded with three straight victories of its own to claim the comeback win.
No. 123 Long defeated Oldham 6-4, 6-2 on court three, while Sofia Hager earned a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5 victory over Hendrikx on court six to equalize things at 3-3.
Kluiving then finished off the rally for Oregon, as she bested Devin Chypyha 7-5, 6-0 on court three to bring the final to 4-3.
“Our doubles play really hurt us today,” said head coach Vicky Maes. “When you don't get the point and you really should have, that puts you in a very tight spot. Kudos to Oregon for grinding it out, but our team should have never let this one go.”
“You win as a team and lose as a team, but if we want a chance to beat ASU and end on a high note, our group is going to need a lot more heart than what we showed this weekend.”
Arizona will try and rebound, as it'll finish off the regular season at. No. 24 Arizona State, Friday at 12:30 pm PT.
#67 Oregon 4, #45 Arizona 3
SINGLES
1. #54 Lauren Marker (ARIZ) def. #90 Nia Rose (ORE) 6-2, 6-1
2. #83 Briar Preston (ARIZ) def. Alyssa Tobita (ORE) 6-1, 6-3
3. #123 Nicole Long (ORE) def. Laura Oldham (ARIZ) 6-4, 6-2
4. Marlou Kluiving (ORE) def. Devin Chypyha (ARIZ) 7-5, 6-0
5. Shayne Austin (ARIZ) def. Lina Akesson (ORE) 6-3, 6-3
6. Sofia Hager (ORE) def. Inge Hendrikx (ARIZ) 6-4, 7-5
Order of Finish: 2,5,1,3,6,4*
*Clinching point
DOUBLES
1. Nia Rose/Alyssa Tobita (ORE) def. #23 Briar Preston/Shayne Austin (ARIZ) 8-5
2. Marlou Kluiving/Nicole Long (ORE) def. Inge Hendrikx/Lauren Marker (ARIZ) 8-43. Laura Oldham/Devin Chypyha (ARIZ) def. Lina Akesson/Paloma Gomez (ORE) 8-4
Order of Finish: 3,2,1
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