SPOKANE, Wash. – Six members of the Portland women's tennis team opened play Friday at the Gonzaga Tournament with freshmen Meagan Pearson and Alaia Rubio Perez picking up their first collegiate singles victories. Sophomore transfer Rose Watanabe also picked up a win as the Pilots split six morning singles matches with host Gonzaga.

Pearson defeated Adrianna Sosnowska by a 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 margin, while Rubio Perez won in straight sets over Caroline Wernli 6-3, 7-6. Watanabe pulled out a comeback 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory over Maria Frampton.

In the afternoon doubles session against Washington State the Pilots took two of four matches. Aleksandra Dimitrijevic and Rimona Rouf took a 6-4 victory and Pearson and Rubio Perez also won by a 6-4 margin.

"This was a great first day of competition for our team," Portland head coach Filip Zivkovic said. "We had six players making their debut today and it was great to see this young squad compete. Singles were very competitive against a solid Gonzaga lineup. We battled hard in all six positions and I thought that we showed a lot of grit, heart and energy from start to finish. 

"I am very happy to see Meagan and Alaia get their first college tennis wins. It was also great to see Rose battle back and pull out a hard-fought win in three sets. Doubles was really great against a very aggressive WSU team. We are showing a lot of promise as a doubles team and I am excited to see how we will continue to develop as the season progresses."

Saturday features the Pilots against New Mexico in doubles and then the Cougars in singles and the tournament concludes on Sunday with Portland facing New Mexico in singles and Gonzaga in doubles.

All matches will have live video and live scoring.

Gonzaga Tournament
Spokane, Wash.
Sept. 23-25, 2022

Friday Sept. 23
Singles
Cate Broerman (GON) def. Rimona Rouf (POR) 6-2, 6-2
Meagan Pearson (POR) def. Adrianna Sosnowska (GON) 2-6, 7-6, 6-3
Jenna Sloan (GON) def. Likhitha Kalava (POR) 6-4, 6-3
Tiegan Aitken (GON) def. Aleksandra Dimitrijevic (POR) 6-1, 6-4
Alaia Rubio Perez (POR) def. Caroline Wernli (GON) 6-3, 7-6
Rose Watanabe (POR) def. Maria Frampton (GON) 2-6, 6-3, 6-0
Maria Sodre (UNM) def. Kylie Canubida (POR) 7-5, 6-3
Sofia Taborga (UNM) def. Smilia Matovic (POR) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4

Doubles
Dimitrijevic/Rouf (POR) def. Maxine Murphy/Yura Nakagawa (WSU) 6-4
Rubio Perez/Pearson (POR) def. Fifa Kumhom/Elyse Tse (WSU) 6-4
Aitken/Wernli (GON) def. Kalava/Watanabe (POR) 6-3
Yang Lee/Eva Alvarez Sande (WSU) def. Kylie Canubida/Smilia Matovic (POR) 6-4


Saturday Sept. 24
10:00 am Gonzaga vs. New Mexico (singles)
12:30 pm Gonzaga vs. WSU (doubles)
12:30 pm New Mexico vs.  Portland (doubles)
Upon completion of doubles, WSU vs. Portland (singles)

Sunday Sept. 25
9:00 am Portland vs. New Mexico (singles)
11:30 am Gonzaga vs. Portland (doubles)
11:30 am WSU vs. New Mexico (doubles)
Upon completion of doubles, Gonzaga vs. WSU (singles)