PROVO, Utah – The BYU Cougars held on for a close 4-2 victory over the Portland Pilots on Friday in West Coast Conference women's tennis action. The Pilots fall to 6-7 overall and 2-1 in league play, while the Cougars improve to 6-8 and 1-1 in conference.

BYU took the doubles point with comfortable victories at the top two positions. Pilot freshmen Emily Soares and Anna Oberg were tied with BYU's Taylah Beckman and Demi Perkinson at 4-4 at the No. 3 spot when the point was clinched.

Portland battled back in singles play as sophomore Radina Dimitrova and Tatiana Grigoryan each won in straight sets at the No. 2 and No. 4 positions, respectively.

BYU tied the score with a win at No. 3 and then took a 3-2 lead when senior Savannah Ware-Avina outlasted Pilot freshman Jelena Lukic 7-5 in the third set at the No. 1 position.

The Cougars clinched as Beckman defeated Soares at the No. 5 spot in straight sets. Oberg was leading by a set at No. 6 when the match concluded.

The Pilots will continue WCC play on the road at San Diego on Sunday at 11 a.m.

BYU 4, Portland 2
Provo, Utah (Indoor Tennis Courts)
March 31, 2017

Singles
1. Savannah Ware-Avina (BYU) def. Jelena Lukic (POR) 6-2, 3-6, 7-5
2. Radina Dimitrova (POR) def. Natella Nabieva (BYU) 6-3, 6-1
3. Kate Cusick (BYU) def. Jelena Lazarevic (POR) 7-6, 6-3
4. Tatiana Grigoryan (POR) def. Samantha Smith (BYU) 7-6, 6-2
5. Taylah Beckman (BYU) def. Emily Soares (POR) 6-3, 6-3
6. Anna Oberg (POR) vs. Demi Perkinson (BYU) 6-2, 4-4 unfinished

Doubles
1. Ware-Avina/Nabieva (BYU) def. Lukic/Lazarevic (POR) 6-3
2. Smith/Kusick (BYU) def. Grigoryan/Dimitrova (POR) 6-2
3. Soares/Oberg (POR) vs. Beckman/Perkinson (BYU) 4-4 unfinished

Match Notes:
Portland 6-7, 2-1 WCC
BYU 6-8, 1-1 WCC
Order of Finish: Doubles (2,1), Singles (2,3,4,1,5)