By
Risa Pavia
March 30, 2007
The Washington women's tennis team dominated the Portland Pilots in its last non-conference match of the season, sweeping the doubles and dropping only one singles match in Friday's 6-1 victory. The level of play was high across the board for the Huskies, who have won two of their last three matches.
"The whole team played really well," coach Jill Hultquist said.
Although the team has struggled with having enough players available to play in every match due to nagging illnesses, injuries and eligibility issues, as the season draws to a close the women are using everything they have to fight for wins.
"There are still players who are injured who will be out for the season now," Hultquist said. "At this point, what you see is what you get."
This weekend's match showed that those players who are still able to play have not lost the desire to win. Junior co-captain Tara Simpson clinched the match for the Huskies with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Portland's Lindsey Griffin in her third consecutive win as the No. 3 single.
Junior Mathilde Cor is also on a win streak, notching her fifth straight win at the No. 1 singles position by defeating Portland's Christie Feyen 6-3, 6-0. Cor's strength and fitness have been steadily improving since her return to match play after a bout of mononucleosis.
"Mathilde is getting better," Hultquist said. "Her energy levels were much higher today."
Cor was also impressive in doubles play, teaming with freshman Joyce Ardies for an 8-3 win at the No. 1 doubles position.
The women were aggressive on all of the doubles courts in Friday's match, winning all three matches to take the doubles point — something they had struggled with in other matches. Simpson and partner Melinda Wong had a quick win at the No. 2 doubles position to improve their dual-match season record to 9-8, the best team doubles record. The No. 3 doubles team of Allison Rainey and Lauren Summers had the toughest match, prevailing in a tiebreaker over their opponents, who included Feyen, Portland's No. 1 singles player.
"The doubles was great today, even the No. 3 team," Hultquist said. "They made more balls today, and not as many mistakes."
This was the second-to-last home match for the Huskies, who will finish up Pac-10 play over the next few weeks with matches against Cal, Stanford, Washington State and Oregon.
Reach reporter Risa Pavia at sports@thedaily.washington.edu
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