PORTLAND – The Portland State women's tennis team earned its first Big Sky victory of the season defeating Montana State 5-2 on Saturday.

The Vikings reclaimed their .500 record with the win improving to 4-4 while the Bobcats dropped to 0-5 on the season.

Portland State came out strong in doubles action, sweeping the field to earn an early 1-0 advantage. Gerda Upeniece and Ashley Ramirez continued their dominance in the No. 3 spot, earning their fifth-straight win as a duo at No. 3 doubles 6-2.

Makoto Ohara was the first to earn a victory in singles play as she won her fifth-straight solo match at the No. 3 (6-0, 6-2). Ramirez followed closely behind defeating JJ Chen on court five 6-4, 6-2.

It was freshman Capu Sanoner who clinched the win for the Vikings earning the fourth point of the day in a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 2.

Emily Rees, who was also looking for her fifth-straight singles win notched the final point for the Vikings at No. 4.

"Emily stepped out of her comfort zone by changing her game against an opponent with a similar game to hers," Sanoner said of her junior teammate. "She was offensive and won the physical and mental battle in the end."

Rees pushed her Bobcat opponent to a tiebreaker before sealing the deal at 3-6, 4-6, 10-8, putting the icing on the cake for the Vikings.  

"The team showed a real physical and mental effort today," Sanoner continued, "We played against a team with a totally different style of play than ours, and the whole team was able to adapt quickly with great energy and spirit."

The Vikings will return to their home court Sunday to face Montana at 11 a.m.

Singles competition

1. MARY, Laura (MSU-W) def. MESZAROS, Lotti (PSU-W) 6-3, 6-2

2. SANONER, Capucine (PSU-W) def. VAN BAELEN, Mirte (MSU-W) 6-4, 6-4

3. OHARA, Makoto (PSU-W) def. LERMAN, Jazmin (MSU-W) 6-0, 6-2

4. REES, Emily (PSU-W) def. JAYASAPUTRA, Felicia (MSU-W) 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-8)

5. RAMIREZ, Ashley (PSU-W) def. CHEN, JJ (MSU-W) 6-4, 6-2

6. ZANDER, Enni (MSU-W) def. UPENIECE, Gerda (PSU-W) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles competition

1. SANONER, Capucine/OHARA, Makoto (PSU-W) def. MARY, Laura/VAN BAELEN, Mirte (MSU-W) 7-6 (7-2)

2. MESZAROS, Lotti/REES, Emily (PSU-W) def. LERMAN, Jazmin/CHEN, JJ (MSU-W) 6-0

3. RAMIREZ, Ashley/UPENIECE, Gerda (PSU-W) def. ZANDER, Enni/BUIJSEN, Evi (MSU-W) 6-2