PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Portland women's tennis team dropped a 4-3 road decision to Brown on Saturday in a marathon match that came down to the wire. It marks the second straight narrow defeat on the road for the Pilots, who also lost 4-3 to Boston University on Friday.

"We played two very good opponents in back-to-back matches," Portland head coach Filip Zivkovic said.
"The Boston U match was challenging on so many levels, but I think that our team responded incredibly well and we put ourselves in the position to play for it in the 3rd set of a deciding match today."

The Pilots (2-2) fell behind early after dropping the doubles point with close losses at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions. Portland's No. 2 tandem of Rimona Rouf and Aleksandra Dimitrijevic were leading 5-3 when the point was clinched.

The Pilots surged back into the lead with hard-fought wins at the top three singles positions. Sally Pethybridge tied the score with a 7-5, 6-1 win against Vivian Miller at the No. 2 spot. Iva Zelic then defeated Phoebe Peus 7-6, 6-3 at No. 1 and Alaia Rubio Perez picked up a 7-6, 3-6, 6-1 win at No. 3 against Gabby Soliman.

Brown tied the match with straight set wins at the No. 4 and No. 5 positions, setting up the deciding match at No. 6 with Pilot freshman Nadine Arbaizar Martinez against Brown senior Nora Lee. Arbaizar Martinez came back after dropping the opening set to pull out a second set tiebreaker, but fell 6-4 in a hard-fought deciding set.
 
"I think that we are getting the exact experience we came here for," Zivkovic noted. "We are learning how to handle difficult situations, how to play tennis under pressure, and how to handle adversity.
My hope is that we will continue to grow from these experiences and that matches like today will serve us well moving forward.

"As far as Nadine's match, I am very proud of her. Playing a deciding match is a special experience, most college players go their entire career and never experience it. I am sure that she will learn from it, appreciate the experience and get better for future matches, as will our entire team."

The Pilots will conclude their three-game East Coast road trip on Sunday with an 8:45 a.m. match against Bryant.

Brown 4, Portland 3
Providence, R.I. (Indoor Tennis Courts)
February 3, 2024
 
Singles
1. Iva Zelic (POR) def. Phoebe Peus (BROWN) 7-6 (6), 6-3
2. Sally Pethybridge (POR) def. Vivian Miller (BROWN) 7-5, 6-1
3. Alaia Rubio Perez (POR) def. Gabby Soliman (BROWN) 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-1
4. Anne Yang (BROWN) def. Rimona Rouf (POR) 6-2, 6-3
5. Addison Ahlstrom (BROWN) def. Aleksandra Dimitrijevic (POR) 6-3, 6-4
6. Nora Lee (BROWN) def. Nadine Arbaizar Martinez (POR) 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-4

Doubles
1. Peus/Lindsey Hofflander (BROWN) def. Zelic/Pethybridge (POR) 6-3
2. Yang/Nora Lee (BROWN) vs. Rouf/Dimitrijevic (POR) 3-5, unfinished
3. Ben-Abraham/Miller (BROWN) def. Rubio Perez/Meagan Pearson (POR) 6-4

Match Notes:
Portland 2-2
Brown 1-1