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BOZEMAN, Mont. — "Remember the Bozeman" doesn't have the same ring to it as "Remember the Alamo", but the sentiment is the same for the Portland State women's tennis team, which despite picking up another loss via a 5-2 decision against Montana State Sunday, gave the Bobcats a run for their money while playing with only four players at the Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center.
 
"I am super proud of this team and the way they found played together today," head coach Jay Sterling said of his team after the match. "As a team, today was something really special. With all of the odds stacked against them, our players came together as one fighting unit and played with a fearlessness and gritty determination like I haven't seen before. They played to win, leaving their hearts on the court. It was selfless. It was fun. It was exciting. It's a day I think they will remember for a long time."
 
The Vikings (0-5, 0-2 Big Sky) will be left wondering what might have been had they been at full strength against the Bobcats (2-4, 1-0 Big Sky) as the Vikings split the four singles matches contested Sunday, and lost one of the other two in a 10-point match tiebreaker after winning the first set. Additionally, all four of the Vikings playing Sunday would have likely been playing two lines below where they were had the Vikings had a full compliment of players.
 
Regardless, Sunday's match represented a break through for junior Ashley Knecht, who won her first-career singles match in a spring dual with a 7-6 (5), 3-6, 1-0 (10-8) win over the Bobcats' Linda Vink at No. 4 singles. Knecht had only played at No. 6 singles before this season, but picked up her first-career win two lines above that against an opponent in Vink who won four matches at No. 5 singles a year earlier as a freshman at Montana State.
 
"It felt amazing to finally break through and get my first dual singles win," Knecht said after the match. "I've always known that I could do it but in the past not all of the pieces had come together at once. But today I felt calm and focused. Everything was working for me, for the most part, and I found a way to problem solve through points in the match where in the past I would have broken down gotten in my head too much."
 
Sophomore newcomer Eszter Zador won the other match for the Vikings, beating Montana State's Annie Walker 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-3) at No. 2 singles. Zador has been the Vikings' most consistent winner so far this season, as she now has three wins in five matches this season, including two wins at line two where she's 2-1 this season.
 
"I think I play confident in singles," Zador said of her success in singles this season. "I believe in my shots and use my weapons as much as I can. I try not to overthink my shots and be consistent. Today I am happy that after I lost the second set, I was able to stay focused and play my game."
 
Alli Valk remains on the cusp of a breakout win herself, and nearly got it Sunday in what ended up a 6-2, 2-6, 0-1 (8-10) loss to Montana State's Laura Mary at No. 1 singles. Valk was serving at 8-8 in the match tiebreaker against Mary when she lost the point, and Mary served out the match on the ensuing point.
 
Valk and Zador were also at 3-3 in their match at No. 1 doubles when it was called after the Bobcats wrapped up the doubles point with a win at No. 2 doubles.
 
The Vikings now have a week off to get healthy before returning to action with a home match against Idaho State, Feb. 24, at Club Green Meadows in Vancouver, Wash.
 
"Today we saw what it takes to be successful and the level of commitment, fight, energy and togetherness that we will need for each match for the rest of the season if we are going to find success and challenge for a spot at the conference tournament," Sterling said. "We know that we will only get better as our team gets healthy and we return players to the lineup. I think it is a very motivating factor for the team."
 
Montana State 5, Portland State 2
Feb 11, 2018 at Bozeman, MT (Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center) 

Singles competition

1. MARY, Laura (MSU) def. VALK, Alli (PSU) 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-8)

2. ZADOR, Eszter (PSU) def. WALKER, Annie (MSU) 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-3)

3. PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) def. UPENIECE, Gerda (PSU) 6-2, 6-1

4. KNECHT, Ashley (PSU) def. VINK, Linda (MSU) 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 1-0 (10-8)

5. ZANDER, Enni (MSU) def. No player (PSU), by default

6. IVERSON, Sara (MSU) def. No player (PSU), by default

 

Doubles competition

1. MARY, Laura/WALKER, Annie (MSU) vs. VALK, Alli/ZADOR, Eszter (PSU) 3-3, unfinished

2. PHILIPPOVA, Angelina/VINK, Linda (MSU) def. UPENIECE, Gerda/KNECHT, Ashley (PSU) 6-0

3. CHEVERIE, Sarah/ZANDER, Enni (MSU) def. No player/No player (PSU), by default

 

Match Notes

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,6,3,1,4,2)

T-2:15