PULLMAN, Wash. – Returning to action for the first time since a historic 2021 spring season, the Portland State women's tennis team opened its fall season at the Cougar Classic this past weekend.
Newcomers Mariajosé Hernandez Coronado and Maddie Egan highlighted the group in singles competition to open the three-day affair. Hernandez, a freshman out of Guatemala City, secured the first collegiate victory of her career on Friday, defeating Boise State's Shauna Heffernan in a close 7-5, 6-4 matchup in the opening round of the red singles flight.
Also competing in the red flight for the Vikings was Egan, a transfer from Washington State. The Sophomore earned the second singles victory of the tournament for PSU, defeating Eastern Washington's Kenzington Mann 6-2, 6-4 to advance. Egan eventually fell in the next round to Montana's Aili Hietala 6-1, 6-0.
It was Hernandez who continued to advance in the singles portion, defeating Montana's Rosie Stark 6-3, 6-7, (10-4) to advance to the semifinal round in the red flight. Hernandez continued her winning streak with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Seattle's Jade Quintana to advance to the final round. Seattle's Mireia Fehr was the only one to knock off Hernandez, doing so in the red singles flight Championship 6-2, 6-2.
The Vikings picked up several victories in doubles action throughout the weekend. Following a dominant season in the Spring, Capu Sanoner and Makoto Ohara defeated Montana on their way to the consolation final of the crimson doubles flight. The pair eventually lost to Washington State's Ly-Nguyen and Kumham 8-5 in the final round.
Also making an appearance in the consolation final were Emily Rees and Nika Beukers. After falling in the opening round of the gray flight, the pair followed up with an 8-4 victory to advance to the finals.
Partnering up for the first time, Jacinta Milenkoski and Hernandez advanced to the championship round of the red flight. The pair defeated an Eastern Washington duo before falling 8-4 to Montana's Aili Hietala and Maria Goheen to finish the weekend.
The Vikings will return to action this weekend at the Boise State Invitational. The tournament is scheduled to begin on Friday, Oct. 1, and will conclude on Sunday, Oct. 3.
