BEAVERTON – In a rematch of Friday's dual, the Portland State women's tennis team was unable to repeat a victory over Portland, falling in a close 4-3 decision to the Pilots on Sunday.
 
"The girls showed exceptional courage and energy on the court today," senior Lotti Meszaros said following the match. "Every ball was an opportunity and everyone fought until the end."
 
The Vikings opened the day dropping a match at No. 2 doubles (6-4, 6-3) but Ashley Ramirez and Gerda Upeniece kept the point alive after securing a 6-4 victory on court three, meaning the initial point fell in the hands of Capu Sanoner and Makoto Ohara at the No.1 spot. The back-and-forth affair ultimately went the way of the Pilots in a 7-5 decision, giving the Pilots a 1-0 lead heading into singles action.
 
Needing a momentum shift, PSU entered singles play with Sanoner in the No.1 spot for the first time in her career while Meszaros took things over at No. 2. Upeniece and Ramirez flipped at five and six.
 
Sanoner was unable to pull off a victory at the top spot, falling 6-2, 7-5. Emily Rees picked up the first win of the day for PSU, defeating Emily Soares at the three spot (6-1, 6-2).
 
With Upeniece coming up short at No.5 singles, the Vikings' fate came down to the final three matches. The Pilots put an end to the Vikings' chances after pulling off a comeback victory over Ramirez on court six (1-6, 7-5, 6-3). Despite the result being decided, Portland State's Meszaros and Ohara continued to fight through their matches, resulting in a pair of three-set wins to end the day for Portland State.
 
"This team is so impressive," Head coach Kyle Russell said as he continues to be impressed by the passion and determination of his team.

"This team was running on fumes mentally, physically, and emotionally, I expected them to come out flat. What I didn't expect was them to dig in their heels and fight back the way that they did. They gave themselves a chance to win the doubles and even made a run to win the team match."
 
The Vikings get a much-needed break next week before kicking off conference action on March 13 against Montana State. 
 
Singles competition
1. Iva Zalic (UP) def. SANONER, Capucine (PSU-W) 6-2, 7-5
2. MESZAROS, Lotti (PSU-W) def. Neli Sunjic (UP) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
3. REES, Emily (PSU-W) def. Emily Soares (UP) 6-1, 6-2
4. OHARA, Makoto (PSU-W) def. Marija Elenova (UP) 5-7, 6-2, 6-1
5. Lela Daszuta (UP) def. UPENIECE, Gerda (PSU-W) 6-3, 6-3
6. Angela Schuster (UP) def. RAMIREZ, Ashley (PSU-W) 1-6, 7-5, 6-3
 
Doubles competition
1. Iva Zalic/Raphaelle Leblanc (UP) def. SANONER, Capucine/OHARA, Makoto (PSU-W) 7-5
2. Rimona Rouf/Neli Sunjic (UP) def. REES, Emily/MESZAROS, Lotti (PSU-W) 6-3
3. UPENIECE, Gerda/RAMIREZ, Ashley (PSU-W) def. Emily Soares/Lela Daszuta (UP) 6-4
 
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (5,3,1,6,2,4)