PORTLAND, Ore. – In a matchup of future West Coast Conference foes, the Portland women's tennis team pulled out a thrilling 4-3 win over Washington State Friday at the Louisiana Pacific Tennis Center. The Pilots improve to 4-2 with the victory, while the Cougars fall to 4-2 overall.

Portland freshman Nadine Arbaizar Martinez came through with the clinching point by defeating Martina Markov 7-6, 6-4 at No. 6 singles to ignite the on-court celebration.

The contest was tight from start-to-finish beginning with a hard-fought doubles point. After Washington State earned a 6-3 win at No. 2 doubles, Portland secured the point with 6-4 wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions.

"We played some of our best tennis of the season today," Portland head coach Filip Zivkovic said. "The doubles point was huge and it set the tone for the rest of the match."
 
Singles play featured numerous high-intensity matches and the Pilots were able to win the big points. Sally Pethybridge doubled Portland's lead with a 6-0, 6-3 win at No. 2, but the Cougars answered with straight set wins at No. 3 and No. 4 to make it 2-2 overall.

Iva Zelic then fought off a match point and won the final four games to pull out a 2-6, 7-6, 7-5 win against Eva Alvarez Sande at No. 1 singles to put the Pilots up 3-2.

"Iva played with so much passion and heart today and that's when she is at her absolute best," Zivkovic said. "Sally has been at a whole different level over the last four matches and today was another fantastic performance by her."

WSU evened the score again after Hania Abouelsaad earned a three-set comeback win against Aleksandra Dimitrijevic setting up the deciding point at No. 6 singles.

Arbaizar Martinez fell behind 5-1 in the opening set, but stormed back to take the set in a 9-7 tiebreaker and then made a clutch serve on match point to send the Pilots to victory.

It marks the fourth time already this dual season that Portland has had a match decided by a 4-3 margin with the Pilots going 2-2 in those contests.

"Nadine is a fast learner," Zivkovic noted. "She was incredibly composed in big moments today and put the team on her back once again. This time she executed incredibly well under pressure and got us a huge win. I am very proud of this group and we all look forward to another great battle tomorrow."

Portland will be back in action tomorrow with a neutral site match against the Denver Pioneers in Eugene. The match is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Student Tennis Center.

Portland 4, Washington State 3
Portland, Ore. (Louisiana Pacific Tennis Center)
February 9, 2024

Singles
1. Iva Zelic (POR) def. Eva Alvarez Sande (WSU) 2-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5
2. Sally Pethybridge (POR) def. Yura Nakagawa (WSU) 6-0, 6-3
3. Fifa Kumhom (WSU) def. Alaia Rubio Perez (POR) 6-4, 6-4
4. Elyse Tse (WSU) def. Rimona Rouf (POR) 6-1, 6-1
5. Hania Abouelsaad (WSU) def. Aleksandra Dimitrijevic (POR) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
6. Martina Markov (WSU) vs. Nadine Arbaizar Martinez (POR) 7-6 (7), 6-4

Doubles
1. Zelic/Pethybridge (POR) def. Alvarez Sande/Tse (WSU) 6-4
2. Kumhom/Nakagawa (WSU) def. Rouf/Dimitrijevic (POR) 6-3
3. Rubio Perez/Meagan Pearson (POR) def. Abouelsaad/Markov (WSU) 6-4

Match Notes:
Washington State 4-2
Portland 4-2
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (2,3,4,1,5,6)
  

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