With a six-match losing streak looming over their heads, in a 3-3 tie with the Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-15, 0-11 Big Ten), the outcome of the final home match of the season for No. 65 Oregon women’s tennis (12-11, 3-8 Big Ten) rested in the hands of the hometown kid, Eugene native Patsy Daughters. 

Two points away from a win, Daughters served the ball down the middle of the court, where it bounced right on the line. Tensions rose in the stands and on the court, where Daughters and others voiced their opinions as the officials discussed the result of the play. 

They ultimately ruled it was point Oregon. Moments later, her opponent hit the ball out of bounds and Daughters tossed her racket aside as her teammates swarmed around her to celebrate.

Before the match began, the team celebrated Senior Day for their lone senior, Olivia Symons. They couldn’t have sent her off with a more thrilling match.

“I’ve loved absolutely every single moment here with the Ducks,” Symons said. “I’m sad that my time has come to a close, but I knew that everyone was gonna make this such a special day. I just had the best time out there, and I’m so glad we could get the win.”

Things did not start Oregon’s way, though, as Minnesota won the doubles point 2-1. Hinata Furutani and Juliet Santitto took a 2-0 lead early, and it only got larger as they eased their way to a 6-2 victory.

Virginia Crocker and Bridget Mihulka traded games with their opponents before falling behind 4-2. They got on the board one more time, but were defeated 6-3.

Tilde Jagare and Symons fell behind from the start and were down 5-0 before finally getting on the board. From there, they came storming all the way back to tie it, but couldn’t quite make it over the hump as they fell short 7-5 and Minnesota claimed the doubles point.

“We’re down on the score, but we’re never out,” Symons said. “It was just time for us to lock in. We know what we’re capable of, so just really going out there and playing all together and being aggressive and competitive. I think that really helped us get over the line.”

In singles, both teams fought their hearts out, but it was the Ducks who capitalized when it mattered most.

Daughters was evenly matched with her opponent. Neither side led by more than a point until her opponent moved ahead 5-3, but Daughters didn’t go away and tied it again at five, but fell short 7-5. She took the early 2-0 lead in the second set, but her opponent quickly tied it. Daughters won the next two games, but her opponent came back again. They were still tied at five, but Daughters stood strong to win 7-5 and force a third set. She sat with another two-game lead early in the final set, but this time, her opponent could not catch up as Daughters pulled ahead 6-2 to get Oregon back in the win column and end the final homestand of the season on the right note.

Furutani was behind 3-0 in her first set before winning her first game. She had a little more in her, but was defeated 6-2. Her opponent maintained control through the second set as Furutani was defeated 6-1 to end her match.

Jagare dropped her first game before winning six straight to take the first set 6-1. She started strong in the second set. Her opponent stayed with her, but Jagare held her ground to win 7-5 and give Oregon its first point of the match.

Symons went back and forth with her opponent, but she had the slight advantage in the first set, winning 6-4. It was another tight battle in the second set to start, but in her final set in the Student Tennis Center, Symons took over to win 6-2 and claim her match, moments after her doubles partner, Jagare.

“I’m just so happy and grateful that I get to be a Duck,” Symons said. “Today was really the cherry on top.”

Santitto could not get going in her first set as she was defeated 6-1. She battled her opponent much harder in the second set. They went into a tiebreaker and Santitto came out on top, 7-5 to force a third set. She took the lead to start the final set and would not be denied, shutting out her opponent 6-0 to give the Ducks their first lead of the match.

Crocker dropped the first two games before getting on the board. She tied it at two before trading games with her opponent for the next four. Crocker took her first lead in the ninth game. Her opponent won the next two games, but Crocker forced a tiebreaker. She went down 5-0 in the tiebreaker before hinting at a comeback, but she was defeated 7-3 to end the first set. The second set went back and forth with neither side leading by more than a game until Crocker pulled ahead 6-4 to force a third set. The final set started out just as close before Crocker fell behind 4-2. She continued to battle, but came up short 6-3 as the Gophers evened the match at three, leaving it up to Daughters to close out the match.

The Ducks begin their final road trip of the regular season April 17, when they take on the Ohio State Buckeyes at 2 p.m.