Portland State faced the biggest test in the Big Sky on Saturday, taking on four-time defending champions Idaho at the Vancouver Tennis Center. But to a casual observer, it may have been hard to tell which team has lost just four conference matches over the last four years and which was still seeking its first Big Sky win this season.

The Vikings ultimately fell 6-1, but showed the energy and fight to match up and compete with the Vandals. Portland State at one point held leads in all four singles matches and gave Idaho everything it could handle on the way to the loss.

"Everybody had their opportunities today to do a little bit more," head coach Jay Sterling said. "We're closer, it's a matter of just a point or two every game as opposed to earlier in the season when it was bigger than that. The girls have been working hard. We served a lot better today and the things that we're working on they're improving on. We just need to keep our energy and positivity up a little bit better and when those opportunities come we will be ready to take advantage of them."

Idaho won the doubles point, but didn't get that without a great fight from the hosts, who are still playing shorthanded with two players out of the lineup. The Vikings won at least three games in every doubles match and extended it late, but Idaho held on the get the first point of the game.

The intensity brought by Portland State in the singles matches rocked Idaho early and allowed the Vikings to jump out to an early lead. They were up 2-1 at both No. 1 and 4 and quickly had huge 4-1 leads at No. 2 and 3.

Eszter Zador maintained her big lead at No. 3 and never looked back. She won 6-1 in the first set and only got stronger in the second set, winning 6-2. She fired up the rest of the team with some huge winners en route to the easy win. This was her first win at No. 3 and moves her to 5-2 overall on the year.

Lotti Meszaros had the big lead at No. 2 and held on in the first set, winning 6-2 to take an early lead against Maria Tavares. Tavares entered the match 4-0 in conference play and responded well after losing the first set. Meszaros continued to fight hard, but fell in the final two sets 2-6, 3-6 in a loss.

At No. 1, freshman Jacinta Milenkoski nearly pulled off one of the biggest upsets over the past three years in the Big Sky. Facing off against three-time Big Sky MVP Marianna Petrei, who has never lost a Big Sky match in her four years at Idaho, Milenkoski held her own.

In the first set Milenkoski matched Petrei shot-for-shot, building a 4-3 lead without trailing. The Vandal veteran responded, winning three straight games including a break of serve to take the first set. The loss didn't deter Milenkoski, who came out swinging again in the second set.

She jumped out to another lead, building it up to 4-3 again. But once again, the skill and experience of Petrei was just a bit too much for the true freshman. Petrei closed out with three straight games, clinching the match 6-4, 6-4.

At No. 4, Alli Valk also had an early lead against a very talented opponent. Marta Magalhaes entered 4-0 in Big Sky matches, but Valk struck first and took a lead. Idaho closed the first set out well and won 6-4, then put together a good second set for a 6-4, 6-2 overall win.

The Vandals clinched the dual 4-1 after the win at No. 2, guaranteeing the result as the last two matches were getting underway. Ashley Knecht, playing No. 6, fell 6-1, 6-1.

Gerda Upeniece put up a great fight at No. 5 after dropping the opening set. She rebounded with a tight 7-5 win in the second set to force a winner take all 10-point tiebreaker. The tiebreak went back and forth, but eventually Upeniece fell 14-12 to finish the match.

"Sure, you can find the moral victory and that's what we have to do, but these girls are hungry for some wins," Sterling said. "If we can fight and have energy like we did against Eastern and like we did today, there are wins ahead of us. It is going to be up to us, setting the tone and playing within ourselves and fighting and grinding like we did today. We've been knocking on the door and peeking around the corner, now it is up to us to see if we are brave enough to step around."

Portland State has a quick turnaround before facing Northern Colorado on the road on Tuesday March 26.

MATCH NOTES: Portland State now trails in the all-time 1-13 … Eszter Zador broke into the top 10 in program history with her eighth career Big Sky Conference win.