ASHLAND, Ore. – The Portland Pilots battled through a competitive Saturday in Ashland, falling 3-2 to Southern Oregon before bouncing back with a 4-1 victory over Simpson to close the weekend. The Pilots moved their overall record to 3-3 on the season.

Portland opened the day in a tightly contested dual against Southern Oregon that came down to the final flights. The Pilots picked up wins on Flights 1 and 2. Leonie Freytag and Elin Larsson rallied after dropping the first set to defeat Tessa Zimmerman and Grace Gulbrandsen 20-22, 21-16, 15-12 in a three-set battle. On Flight 2, Sarah Incitti and Tate Mercer delivered a straight-set victory, 21-12, 21-19. Southern Oregon secured the team win with victories on Flights 3, 4, and 5.

The Pilots responded strongly in their second match of the day, earning a 4-1 win over Simpson. After dropping a hard-fought three-set decision on Flight 1, Portland won four straight flights to secure the dual. Incitti and Mercer set the tone again with a 21-10, 21-16 win on Flight 2. Michela Strati and Valerie Bruk followed with a 21-14, 21-13 victory on Flight 3, while Mitchell and Hildenbrand added another point on Flight 4, 21-14, 21-12. Greta Kesmodel and Josie Povey sealed the team victory on Flight 5 with a 22-20, 21-15 win.

Up next, the Pilots travel to Eugene, Oregon for a doubleheader against Bushnell on Mar. 9.
Full results are listed below.

Portland 5, Simpson 0
1. Leonie Freytag/Elin Larsson (UP) def. Kimora McKechnie/Brooklyn Jimenez (SU) 21-14, 21-15
2. Sarah Incitti/Tate Mercer (UP) def. Tiara Manns/Emily Melo (SU) 21-14, 21-14
3. Valerie Bruk/Michela Strati (UP) def. Elizabeth Heath/ Kare Anne Oshiro (SU) 21-15, 21-13
4. Nyah Mitchell/Jeryn Hildenbrand (UP) def. Mackenzie Tataryn/Sylus Moore (SU) 21-10, 21-12
5. Greta Kesmodel/Josie Povey (UP) def. Kiersti Howell/Alexia Andaya (SU) 21-17, 21-12
Match Notes
Order of finish: 2-4-1-3-5
 
Southern Oregon 3, Portland 2
1. Leonie Freytag/Elin Larsson (UP) def. Tessa Zimmerman/Grace Gulbrandsen (SOU) 20-22, 21-16, 15-12
2. Sarah Incitti/Tate Mercer (UP) def. Kira Sandoval/Poppy Freeman (SOU) 21-12, 21-19
3. Andressa Ribeiro Soares/Maelle Garon (SOU) def. Valerie Bruk/Michela Strati (UP) 21-13, 21-10
4. Amanda Moffat/Kaitlyn Shilling (SOU) def. Nyah Mitchell/Jeryn Hildenbrand (UP) 25-23, 22-20
5. Natalie Perez/Kendal Hadwick (SOU) def. Greta Kesmodel/Josie Povey (UP) 21-16, 21-9
Match Notes
Order of finish: 2-4-5-3-1
 
Portland 4, Simpson 1
1. Kimora McKechnie/Brooklyn Jimenez (SU) def. Leonie Freytag/Elin Larsson (UP) 21-14, 18-21, 19-17
2. Sarah Incitti/Tate Mercer (UP) def. Tiara Manns/Emily Melo (SU) 21-10, 21-16
3. Michela Strati/Valerie Bruk (UP) def. Elizabeth Heath/ Mackenzie Tataryn (SU) 21-14, 21-13
4. Nyah Mitchell/Jeryn Hildenbrand (UP) def. Kare Anne Oshiro/Sylus Moore (SU) 21-14, 21-12
5. Greta Kesmodel/Josie Povey (UP) def. Kiersti Howell/Alexia Andaya (SU) 22-20, 21-15
Match Notes
Order of finish: 4-2-3-5-1

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