BEAVERTON, Ore – Playing shorthanded on Friday afternoon, the Portland State women's tennis team dropped a tight 4-3 dual to Nevada at the Tualatin Hills Tennis Center. The Vikings dropped to 4-4 on the year, while Nevada improved to 3-2 overall.
 
"I'm proud of the way the girls played for each other, not just the ones on the court but the ones who couldn't take the court today" Viking head coach Kyle Russell said. "There were a lot of positives to walk away with."
 
Playing with just five players, Portland State was forced to forfeit the No. 3 doubles match. Despite starting in the hole, the Vikings scratched their way to the opening point. Emily Rees and Elizabeth Strongina kept PSU alive with a 6-4 win on court two. In a battle that lasted over an hour on court one, Nika Beukers and Masha Ponomareva fought their way to a 7-6 (6) comeback victory over Mariana Campino and Amahee Charrier to secure the point for the Vikings.
 
Nevada clinched the match with a trio of victories in singles action. But the Vikings finished strong, picking up wins in two of the final three matches. Strongina earned her fourth-straight victory, defeating Campino 6-2 6-4 at No. 2. Ponomareva finished strong at No. 1 singles, fighting her way to a 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (5) win over Charrier.
 
The Vikings will return to action on Sunday, Feb. 12 against Portland at the Louisiana Pacific Tennis Center (10am).