PORTLAND, Ore. – Seeking its first 10-win season since 2014 and third straight Big Sky tournament berth, the Portland State women's tennis team will close out its 2023 regular-season schedule with two road matches this weekend. The Vikings will open play at Idaho on Friday, April 14 (noon) before heading to Cheney for the regular season finale against Eastern Washington (11 a.m.).

With several conference matches to be played this weekend, the final standings are far from settled. The Vikings enter the weekend 9-11 overall and 3-3 in Big Sky action. They sit fifth in the 2023 Big Sky Standings one match behind Idaho State and Sacramento State who are tied for third. The top six teams at the end of the regular season will qualify for the Big Sky Championship Tournament (April 27-29) in Phoenix, Ariz.
 
The Vikings are coming off a 1-1 weekend on the road, defeating Montana 5-2 before falling short at Montana State 4-3.
 
Masha Ponomareva went 4-0 over those two matches, winning all four matches at the No. 1 spot as she and doubles partner Capu Sanoner improved to 10-0 on the year. The duo is on track to beat several single-season records for the Vikings, as they lead the Big Sky in overall doubles win percentage and rank second in wins at No. 1.
 
Elizabeth Strongina also went 2-0 for the Vikings over the weekend. The freshman enters the final two matches with a team-high 11 wins, leading the Big Sky with a .833 (5-1) win percentage at No. 2 singles. Strongina is riding a three-match win streak, winning six of her last seven.
 
With a 32-22 overall doubles record entering Friday's dual, the Vikings have clinched the doubles point in five of six conference matches. In addition to Sanoner and Ponomareva's dominance at the No. 1 spot, Nell Arendt and Nika Beukers have found their groove at No. 2 doubles. The duo will head to Idaho in search of their fourth straight victory.
 

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MATCH #1
Portland State (9-11, 3-3 BSC) at Idaho (3-12, 1-5 BSC)
Friday, April 14 | Noon
Lewiston, ID (LCSC Tennis Courts)
All-Time Series: Vandals lead, 14-3
Last Meeting: March 21, 2022 (W, 4-3)
 
MATCH #2
Portland State (9-11, 3-3 BSC) at Eastern Washington (3-11, 1-5 BSC)
Sunday, April 16 | 11 a.m.
Cheney, Wash. (Jim Thorpe Fieldhouse)
All-Time Series: Eagles lead, 21-7
Last Meeting: April 10, 2022 (W, 5-2)