Box Score PORTLAND – The Portland State women's tennis team earned a 5-2 victory over the University of Portland on Friday, marking its third straight win of the season.
 
The Pilots entered the match with a 19-0 all-time series lead over PSU. With the victory today, Kyle Russell and his squad became the first team in program history to defeat the Pilots, something that the previous 19 teams failed to do.
 
"We were determined to come out and make a statement today and I think that's what we did," said Junior Emily Rees. "Even though we were playing an away match, Portland is still our city, and the whole team was eager to prove that today."
 
Russell agreed, adding "There is something very special about this team," With several unknowns entering the season, the six-man roster has been competitive in every match so far and has seemingly established its identity heading into conference play on March 13th.
 
Freshman duo Capu Sanoner and Makoto Ohara came up big in doubles action, clinching the point for the Vikings in a thrilling 7-5 victory at No.1 doubles. Also coming out on the winning end of a 7-5 defeat was Gerda Upeniece and Ashley Ramirez at No. 3 doubles.
 
Sanoner clinched the first match in  singles play at the No.2 spot (6-4, 6-2). Ohara followed with the second win in a 6-4, 6-3 defeat over Emily Soares at No. 3 singles.
 
With the Pilots securing wins at No. 1 and No. 6 singles, the deciding point fell in the hands of Rees (No. 4) and Ramirez (No. 5). Finishing first was Rees who won her match 6-3, 6-3, to ultimately decide the match at 4-2.  Ramirez continued to fight all the way through at the No.5 spot putting the icing on the cake for Portland State in a 7-6 (5), 7-5 win.
 
The Vikings will look to repeat their victory on Sunday as they host the University of Portland at the Babette Horenstein Tennis Center.
 
 
Singles
Iva Zelic (UP) def. Lotti Meszaros (PSU) 6-3, 6-2
Capucine Sanoner (PSU) def. Neli Sunjic (UP) 6-4, 6-2
Makoto Ohara (PSU) def. Emily Soares (UP) 6-4, 6-3
Emily Rees (PSU) def. Marija Elenova (UP) 6-3, 6-3
Ashley Ramirez (PSU) def. Lela Daszuta (UP) 7-6 (5), 7-5
Angela Schuster (UP) vs. Gerda Upeniece (PSU) 6-2, 6-3
 
Doubles
Sanoner/Ohara (PSU) def. Zelic/Elenova (UP) 7-5
Sunjic/Rouf (UP) def. Meszaros/Rees (PSU) 7-6 (10)
Upeniece/Ramirez (PSU) vs. Soares/Tanevska (UP) 7-5
 
 
Order of Finish: (Singles: 2,1,3,6,4,5; Doubles: 3,1,2)