PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland women's tennis pushed No. 22 San Diego to the brink but came up just short in a 4-3 loss to the Toreros Sunday at Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center. The Pilots (10-10, 3-4 WCC) have lost five matches this season by a 4-3 margin, including three of the team's four WCC defeats.

The Toreros (14-5, 4-0) had to come back from a 3-1 deficit to pull out the victory. The Pilots grabbed the early momentum by winning the doubles point.

San Diego's No. 2 doubles team won 6-0, but the Pilots responded with a 6-1 win at No. 1 doubles courtesy of Iva Zelic and Sally Pethybridge. Rimona Rouf and Alaia Rubio Perez then secured the point with a 6-4 win at the No. 3 position.

Zelic picked up Portland's second point at No. 1 singles when USD's Claudia De Las Heras, who is ranked No. 55 nationally, was forced to retire at 5-5 in the first set. No. 57 ranked Mia Mack got the Toreros on the board with a straight set win at No. 3 singles, but Pethybridge pulled out a 6-7, 6-1, 6-3 win against Elizabeth Goldsmith at the No. 2 spot to put Portland up 3-1.

The bottom of the lineup for the Toreros came up big as they won in straight sets at No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 to pull out the road win.

The Pilots will conclude the regular season at home Saturday against the Pacific Tigers (11-6, 2-2 WCC) at 10 a.m. with WCC Tournament ramifications on the line. The top six teams based on win percentage will make the tournament, which is being held at San Diego State's Aztec Tennis Center April 25-27.

#22 San Diego 4, Portland 3
Portland, Ore. (Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center)
April 14, 2024

Singles
1. Iva Zelic (POR) def. #55 Claudia De Las Heras (USD) 5-5, retired
2. Sally Pethybridge (POR) def. Elizabeth Goldsmith (USD) 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3
3. #57 Mia Mack (USD) def. Alaia Rubio Perez (POR) 7-5, 6-0
4. Kailey Evans (USD) def. Aleksandra Dimitrijevic (POR) 6-1, 6-3
5. Abigail Desiatnikov (USD) def. Rimona Rouf (POR) 6-3, 6-2
6. Filippa Bruu-Syversen (USD) def. Meagan Pearson (POR) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles
1. Zelic/Pethybridge (POR) def. De Las Heras/Jordyn McBride (USD) 6-1
2. Evans/Mack (USD) def. Dimitrijevic/Rose Watanabe (POR) 6-0
3. Rubio Perez/Rouf (POR) def. Goldsmith/Nordikyan (USD) 6-4

Match Notes:
San Diego 14-5, 4-0 WCC; National ranking #22
Portland 10-10, 3-4 WCC
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,3,2,4,5,6)
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