Sunday marked the end of both season and career play for Oregon’s two seniors Nicole Long and Sofia Hager.
What better way to end the season than with singles wins for both women and a victory for Oregon.
“It was great to see Nicole and Sofia end their career with wins,” head Coach Alison Silverio said. “They really attacked today’s matches.”
Long’s “attack” came in the form of a quick and easy 6-0, 6-2 victory over Idaho’s Sophie Vickers. Long was the first to finish in singles play, and immediately after her win, turned to the crowd with a smile spread across her face and thanked all of the spectators for coming to watch.
“It was awesome to end the way I did,” said Long. “It’s a little bittersweet though, I’m going to miss this place.”s
Long ended her career in the Oregon record books where she is tied for ninth in most victories in a singles season with 22 wins. Long was a two time Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention in her time at Oregon.
Hager’s singles match was won in a fashion similar to Long’s with a 6-1, 6-4 victory.
Hager now has 46 total singles victories at Oregon, and is tied for fifth in doubles victories in a single season with 19 wins which she earned during the 2011- 2012 season with her doubles partner Patricia Skowronski. Hager was also a two time Pac-12 all academic award winner.
Between the doubles and singles matches, the seniors were honored at mid court with flowers and plaques with their photos to commemorate their time at Oregon.
Oregon’s final season win boosted their overall record 11-10 and 4-6 Pac- 12 play.
After the match, the Ducks gave back by hosting a free youth tennis clinic. Still fresh from the victory, the players took time to hit back and forth with six kids and teach them proper stretching technique. After rallying, the women to signed posters for the kids, each with a special message written for every child who took part in the clinic.
Next up in the world of Women’s Tennis is the Pac-12 championships that will be held in Ojai, California beginning April 23.
Final Results:
Singles

1. Galina Bykova (UI) def. #71 Nia Rose (ORE) 6-3, 6-3
2. Alyssa Tobita (ORE) def. Emmie Marx (UI) 6-3, 6-3
3. Nicole Long (ORE) def. Sophie Vickers (UI) 6-0, 6-2
4. Belen Barcenilla (UI) def. Marlou Kluiving (ORE) 6-3, 6-3
5. Lina Åkesson (ORE) def. Lucia Badillos (UI) 6-1, 6-4
6. Sofia Hager (ORE) def. Beatriz Flores (UI) 6-1, 6-4

Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1, 6, 4, 5
Doubles

1. #60 Rose/Tobita (ORE) def. Marx/Bykova (UI) 6-2
2. #65 Kluiving/Long (UI) trailed Vickers/Barcenilla (UI) 4-3 (Abandoned)
3. Åkesson/Gomez (ORE) def. Baddilos/Bermudez (UI) 6-2

Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2 (Unf.)