BEAVERTON, Ore. - In their final non-conference match before beginning Big Sky action, the Portland State women's tennis team dropped a 7-0 dual to Washington State on Saturday at the Tualatin Hills Tennis Center. The loss moved the Vikings to 2-3 overall while the Cougars jumped to 5-2.

The Vikings hadn't played a match in over a week, last taking the court against the Academy of Art last Friday. The Cougars, however, were fresh off a loss to the University of Portland and were looking for redemption.

WSU secured the doubles point, winning all three matches to take the opening point. Despite the setback, the Vikings kept pace with the Cougars to begin singles action. The Cougars eventually found their groove, winning straight-set matches at lines four, one and three to officially clinch the victory. WSU also won a straight-set match on court five but Viking Scarlett Perkins made it challenging. The freshman got off to a hot start in set one before Hania Abouelsaad managed to battle back and win it 7-5. She later took command of set two, securing a 7-5, 6-3 win over Perkins.

Meanwhile, Maddie Egan and Nika Beukers both found themselves in three-set battles. At line six, Egan lost her first set 6-2 but clawed her way back to a 6-3 victory in the second. Her opponent, Martina Markov, took the reigns in the deciding set, winning 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. Beukers' match was the last to finish as she and Yura Nakagawa went neck-and-neck on court two. Beukers took the first set 7-6 (3) before Nakagawa won the ensuing set 7-5 to tie it. The opponents battled out a 10-point tie break but Nakagawa won it, 7-6 (3), 7-5, 1-0 (3).

Looking ahead, the Vikings will shift their focus to conference play as they prepare for their Big Sky opener next weekend. They'll host Montana State on Saturday, Feb. 17 at the Tualatin Hills Tennis Center (10 am).