LOS ANGELES – The University of Hawai`i women's tennis team fell victim to a late rally by Loyola Marymount in a 4-3 loss Monday at the LMU Tennis Center. The Rainbow Wahine fell to 1-3 on the season.

 

Bliss Nixon lifted the Lions (1-1) to their first win of the year by defeating Alyssa Nafarrete for the clinching point on court No. 6. Nixon claimed five of the last six games, including the final three straight, to rally past Nafarrete, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

 

LMU claimed two of three doubles matches to take the first point of the day. UH, however, won three of the first four singles matches to put themselves in position for its second road win in as many days. After missing the last match, senior Sophie Kobuch returned to action and got a dominating 6-1, 6-2 win over Jane Pringle at the No. 3 court. Barbara Pinterova and Natasha Zorec followed suit with straight-set wins on courts No. 1 and 4, respectively, to give UH a 3-2 lead. The Rainbow Wahine would fall short though as Nixon rallied past Nafarrete to steal the Lion victory.

 

The Rainbow Wahine continue their trip through Southern California with a match at San Diego on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 1:30 p.m. PT (11:30 a.m. HT).

 

1. Jasmin Heckel/Bliss Nixon (LMU) def. Barbara Pinterova/Alyssa Nafarrete (UH) 8-5

2. Natasha Zorec/Aglae Van den Bergh (UH) def. Audrey Bulkley/Jane Pringle (LMU) 8-4

3. Melissa Valenzuela/Elisaveta Pironkova (LMU) def. Katarina Poljakova/Mari Tadaki (UH) def. 8-6

 

1. Barbara Pinterova (UH) def. Jasmin Heckel (LMU) 6-3, 6-1

2. Elisaveta Pironkova (LMU) def. Katarina Poljakova (UH) 6-0, 6-4

3. Sophie Kobuch (UH) def. Jane Pringle (LMU) 6-1, 6-2

4. Natasha Zorec (UH) def. Melissa Valenzuela (LMU) 6-3, 6-4

5. Estelle LaPorte (LMU) def. Aglae Van den Bergh (UH) 7-5, 6-4

6. Bliss Nixon (LMU) def. Alyssa Nafarrete (UH) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4*