SEATTLE, Wash. – The Portland State women's tennis team pulled off a pair of wins against Washington before ultimately falling 6-1 to the Huskies at the Nordstrom Tennis Center Sunday afternoon. The Vikings fell to 3-2 on the year while the Huskies improved to 4-0. 

"In years past, playing schools like Washington has always been about learning lessons. The energy was different today," Viking assistant coach Josiah Petersen said. "The biggest thing the girls took away from today's match was the belief that we can get to a level where we can play these bigger schools and be considered a threat."

Masha Ponomareva and Capu Sanoner proved that statement when they dominated Hikaru Sato and Astrid Olsen 6-1 at No. 1 doubles to open the day. The undefeated duo lit a fire under the Vikings as Sanoner shouted "That's how we play doubles!" during an angled volley that sealed the win. 

"I thought we showed some flashes of what we can be in doubles today," head coach Kyle Russell said. "Mako took over the entire court really well and our No. 1 doubles impressed. They played an incredible match and it was fun to watch."

Despite a valiant effort by Makoto Ohara and Elizabeth Strongina at the No. 3 spot, the duo couldn't pull off a win, falling 7-5 to Jennifer Kerr and Melissa Sakar as the Huskies clinched the opening point. 

Washington secured the dual win with three-straight victories to open singles play. Ponomareva continued to shine on the top court, earning a 6-2 victory in set one before Sato answered with a 2-6 win in set two. A 10-6 tiebreak clinched the match for Ponomareva who became the first Viking in program history to beat a UW opponent. 

The Vikings will head to California next weekend with their heads held high as they take on UC Irvine (Sunday, Feb. 5) and UC Riverside (Monday, Feb. 6).

Singles

1. Masha Ponomareva (PSU) def. Hikaru Sato (UW) – 6-2, 2-6, (10-6)
2. Sarah-Maude Fortin (UW) def. Capu Sanoner (PSU) – 6-2, 7-6 (3)
3. Astrid Olsen (UW) def. Nell Arendt (PSU) – 6-1, 6-0
4. Jennifer Kerr (UW) def. Emily Rees (PSU) – 6-0, 6-1
5. Melissa Sakar (UW) def. Makoto Ohara (PSU) – 6-0, 6-4
6. Erika Matsuda (UW) def. Nika Beukers (PSU) – 6-2, 6-1

Order of finish: 3, 4, 6, 2, 1, 5

Doubles

1. Ponomareva/Sanoner (PSU) def. Olsen/Sato (UW) – 6-1
2. (#56) Fortin/Matsuda (UW) def. Arendt/Rees (PSU) – 6-1
3. Kerr/Sakar (UW) def. Ohara/Strongina (PSU) – 7-5

Order of finish: 2, 1, 3