PORTLAND — Sabine Fuchs and Valeska Hoath picked up singles victories and a doubles win Saturday as the University of Portland women’s tennis team was defeated 5-2 by the visiting Gonzaga Bulldogs in the Pilots West Coast Conference opener at the Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center.

Gonzaga (6-9, 1-1 WCC) took an early lead in the match by securing the doubles point despite dropping the No. 1 match. At No. 1 Fuchs and Hoath teamed for the fourth time to earn an 8-6 victory to help the Pilots (9-5, 0-1 WCC) avoid being swept in doubles action.

In singles action Hoath and Fuchs picked up the Pilots two points for the match with victories at No. 4 and No. 2, respectively. Fuchs won in straight sets improving her season record to 8-5, while Hoath won her team high twelfth match of the season and eleventh of dual play.

The Pilots next take the court at No. 66 UC-Santa Barbara on March 31 at the Recreation Center Courts on the UCSB campus.

Gonzaga (6-9, 1-1 WCC) 5
Portland (9-5, 0-1 WCC) 2
March 26, 2011
Portland, Ore.
Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center

Singles
1 – Rika Mehndiratta (GON) def. Stephanie Fuchs (UP) 6-3, 6-4
2 – Sabine Fuchs (UP) def. Kristina Auere (GON) 6-4, 6-4
3 – Prue Teitzel (GON) def. Beate Valdmane (UP) 6-0, 6-1
4 – Valeska Hoath (UP) def. Clare Dodge (GON) 6-3, 6-1
5 – Danielle Farmer (GON) def. Emily Mahairas (UP) 6-0, 6-2
6 – Sophie Lantta (GON) def. Gabrielle Gorence (UP) 7-5, ret.

Doubles
1 – Sabine Fuchs/Valeska Hoath (UP) def. Rika Mehndiratta/Danielle Farmer (GON) 8-6
2 – Clare Dodge/Kristina Zauere (GON) def. Stephanie Fuchs/Emily Mahairas (UP) 8-6
3 – Sophie Lantta/Jackie Tabb (GON) def. Beate Valdmane/Gabrielle Gorence (UP) 8-1