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Portland State University Athletics

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS
Eszter Zador
Larry Lawson
2
Portland State PSU (4-10/1-8 BSC)
5
Winner Southern Utah SUU (12-8/5-3 BSC)
Portland State PSU
(4-10/1-8 BSC)
2
Final
5
Southern Utah SUU
(12-8/5-3 BSC)
Winner

Match Recap: Women's Tennis | | Jackson Wagner

Zador Keeps Winning as Vikings Lose Close Match to Thunderbirds

The Portland State Vikings had their chances to extend a winning streak to three games, but missed opportunities and a veteran opponent came together in a 5-2 loss on Sunday afternoon. Southern Utah overcame multiple match points on different lines, dropping the Vikings to 4-10, 1-8 in Big Sky play.


Portland State had a chance to take the double point after an improbable comeback at the top spot. The Vikings won 6-3 at No. 3 but lost by the same score at No. 2, leaving it up to the top teams to determine the first point of the day. The Vikings trailed 1-4 in that match but battled back to give themselves a chance.

Jacinta Milenkoski and Nina Nikitovic rallied back, winning four straight games and setting themselves up with a match point. They couldn't capitalize, and Southern Utah rolled off three straight games for a 7-5 win to put the Thunderbirds ahead 1-0.

They doubled the lead early in the singles competition with a 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 1, but the Vikings once again fought back. Meszaros, playing on court two, made easy work of her opponent in a 6-2, 6-3 win that cut the lead to just one.

A couple of three-setters went the way of each team on the middle courts. Southern Utah won 6-1, 0-6, 6-2 at No. 3 but Eszter Zador got the point back for the Vikings. She dropped her opening set but fought back for what ended up being a dominating 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 win.

The Vikings had a chance then to make it 3-3, but another missed match point at No. 6 helped Southern Utah clinch. The Thunderbirds won 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 at No. 6 and 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 at No. 5 to close out the Vikings in a close match.

"This was a winnable dual for us. The team is disappointed for sure," head coach Jay Sterling said. "Lotti and Eszter had great matches in singles. Like any good, competitive team, Southern Utah fought back. We were up and had them on the ropes, and we didn't handle their final push back very well. We waited for them to go away, but they kept coming, with better energy and better fight than us."

Portland State now returns home for the final match of the season. They will take on Sacramento State on Apr. 20 in a Senior Day celebration.

MATCH NOTES: Portland State leads the all-time series 4-3 … Eszter Zador improves to 8-3 on the season with her win.
 
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