PORTLAND – The Portland State Vikings picked up to singles wins in their 5-2 loss to cross-town rival Portland on Friday afternoon.
 
The Vikings fall to 1-3 on the season while the Pilots improve to 2-2 while continuing their win streak over Portland State.

"Today was a little spotty. We definitely needed everything to be already put together, and that wasn't the case," said Head Coach Kyle Russell. "That being said there were some very encouraging signs. I liked that we kept our fight even when singles wasn't going well." 
 
Eszter Zador and Jacinta Milenkoski earned a win in doubles, defeating UP's duo 6-3. Zador and Milenkoski have now won two matches as a duo, improving their season record to 2-1.
 
Portland secured an early lead in the dual, winning the other two doubles matches for the point, winning 6-2 on court one and 6-0 on court two.
 
In singles play, Alli Valk got her second win of the season at the No. 5 spot to improve to 2-2. Defeating UP's Jana Tanevska, Valk held on to victory in the opening set, winning 7-6 with a 10-8 tiebreaker. She finished with a 6-4 in the second set to get the Vikings on the board.
 
At the six spot, Emily Rees tallied her first win in dual play, winning in straight sets 6-1, 6-0. Lotti Meszaros put up a strong fight in her match at No. 2, coming back from a 6-1 opening set loss to win the second 6-3 before dropping the last set 6-2.

"Alli came back in both sets and something definitely clicked for her today," continued Russell. "Emily is starting to hit her stride as well. I feel good about things as we open up our conference matches."
 
The Vikings will have a few days to rest before getting back at it as they open up Big Sky Conference play on Monday, Feb. 17 against Southern Utah at the Vancouver Tennis Center.
 
RESULTS:
SINGLES:
Jelena Lukic (POR) def. Jacinta Milenkoski (PSU) 6-1, 6-2
Neli Sunjic (POR) def. Lotti Meszaros (PSU) 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
Emily Soares (POR) def. Nina Nikitovic (PSU) 6-3, 6-4
Marija Elenova (POR) def. Eszter Zador (PSU) 6-2, 6-2
Alli Valk (PSU) def. Jana Tanevska (POR) 7-6 (10-8), 6-4
Emily Rees (PSU) def. Angela Schuster (POR) 6-1, 6-0
 
DOUBLES:
Jelena Lukic/Neli Sunjic (POR) def. Nina Nikitovic/Alli Valk (PSU) 6-2
Angela Schuster/Jana Tanevska (POR) def. Lotti Meszaros/Emily Rees (PSU) 6-0
Jacinta Milenkoski/Eszter Zador (PSU) def. Emily Soares/Laura Okazaki (POR) 6-3