Two clutch victories highlight Bruin wins over Centre and Luther

PORTLAND, Ore. (GFU Athletics) — Another beautiful sunny day in Orlando brought two 5-2 victories for the Bruins, picking up their first two wins of their spring break trip. 

George Fox took down Centre College in their first game of the day, winning 5-2 after several close matches. The Colonels put up a great fight in the doubles matches, but the Bruins proved to be too much for them, taking the doubles point 2-1. Sophie Denham and Cassey Hitch finished their match first, winning their No. 3 doubles match 6-2. Riley Bobkiewicz and Shanah Denham paired up in the No. 1 spot, dropping their match 6-4 to set up the tiebreaking No. 2 match for the doubles point. Arianna Rader and Kalli Wiker came in clutch, winning in dramatic fashion 7(8) – 6(6) in a back-and-forth affair. 

The singles matches secured the victory for the Bruins as they won several close sets to put the Colonels away. Wiker won her first set 7-6 in the No. 2 spot before her opponent retired due to injury, giving the Bruins a quick 2-0 lead. The Colonels struck back after Hitch dropped her match 6-1, 6-4 in the No. 5 spot, but the Bruins closed out three matches in a row afterward to secure the victory. Shanah Denham won 6-1, 6-4 in the No. 3 spot, Juhree Kizziar won 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 in a three-set thriller in the six, and Sophie Denham closed out the victory with a 6-3, 3-6, 1(10) – 0(4) battle in the four. Bobkiewicz also played an intense match in the No. 1 spot, but ultimately fell 6-2, 7(10) – 6(8) as the Colonels nabbed a point at the end of the match. 

After about an hour break, the Bruins jumped right back into action against Luther College. They had a very similar start to game one, winning their first doubles match, losing their second, and closing it out in a tight tiebreaker battle. 

Bobkiewicz and Wiker were paired together in the No. 1 doubles spot, playing together for the first time all break. The duo prevailed 6-4 in the quickest doubles match of the afternoon. Rader and Hitch dropped their match 6-4 in the No. 3 spot, setting up another No. 2 doubles thriller. The Denham sisters came in clutch with a 7(7) – 6(3) victory to give Fox their second doubles point of the day. 

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