PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Pilots captured the opening doubles point then held on in singles play to post a 4-3 victory over Washington State Friday at the Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center. With the loss, the Cougars fall to 4-2 on the season while Portland improves to 4-2.
 
Portland captured the opening doubles point by claiming wins at No.1 and 3, even though WSU struck first in doubles. The Cougar duo of Yura Nakagawa and Fifa Kumhom jumped out to a 4-0 lead over Aleksandra Dimitrijevic and Rimona Rouf en route to a 6-3 victory. The other two matches were close throughout as Portland's Sally Pethybridge and Iva Zelic captured a late break of serve to defeat Eva Alvarez Sande and Elyse Tse, 6-4. The deciding match came down to No. 3 where the difference was one break of serve as Alaia Rubio Perez and Meagan Pearson held on for a 6-4 win over Hania Abouelsaad and Martina Markov.
 
In singles play, the Cougars made it interesting as they received wins from Kumhom, Tse and Abouelsaad. Kumhom posted a 6-4, 6-4 win over Alaia Rubion Perez at No. 3 while Tse remained unbeaten at 6-0 in dual-match play, cruising to a 6-1, 6-1 win over Rouf at No. 4. Abouelsaad picked up her 11th win of the season, coming from behind for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 5. Her victory evened the match at 3-3, leaving the deciding match to Court 6.
 
After winning the doubles point, Portland also received wins from Zelic at No. 1, who rallied for a 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 win while Pethybridge posted a 6-0, 6-3 win over Nakagawa at No. 2.
 
The deciding match went back and fourth at No. 6, as Markov raced to a 4-0 lead only to see Nadine Arbaizar Martinez storm back to take the first set, 7-6 (9-7). In the second, both players had chances before Arbaizar Martinez closed out the 7-6, 6-4 win to secure the Pilots 4-3 team victory.
 
The Cougars conclude their two-match swing through the Rose City by facing Portland State, Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Tualatin Hills Tennis Center in Beaverton.
 
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
Portland 4 def. Washington State 3
February 9, 2024
Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center
Portland, Ore.
 
DOUBLES
No. 1 Sally Pethybridge/Iva Zelic (UP) def. Eva Alvarez Sande/Elyse Tse (WSU) 6-4
No. 2 Yura Nakagawa/Fifa Kumhom (WSU) vs. Aleksandra Dimitrijevic/Rimona Rouf (UP) 6-3
No. 3 Alaia Rubio Perez/Meagan Pearson (UP) def. Hania Abouelsaad/Martina Markov (WSU) 6-4
Order of Finish: 2,1,3
 
SINGLES
No. 1 Iva Zelic (UP) def. Eva Alvarez Sande (WSU) 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4
No. 2 Sally Pethybridge (UP) def. Yura Nakagawa (WSU) 6-0, 6-3
No. 3 Fifa Kumhom (WSU) def. Alaia Rubio Perez (UP) 6-4, 6-4
No. 4 Elyse Tse (WSU) def. Rimona Rouf (UP) 6-1, 6-1
No. 5 Hania Abouelsaad (WSU) def. Aleksandra Dimitrijevic (UP) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
No. 6 Nadine Arbaizar Martinez (UP) def. Martina Markov (WSU) 7-6 (7), 6-4
Order of Finish:  2,3,4,1,5,6