Shorthanded Vikings Fall to Gonzaga on the Road

SPOKANE, Wash. – Playing shorthanded to start their final regular-season weekend, the Portland State women's tennis team dropped a 4-0 non-conference match to Gonzaga on Saturday at the Stevens Center.

The Bulldogs improved to 10-8 overall, while the Vikings fell to 5-9.

Playing a man down, Portland State was forced to forfeit the No. 3 doubles match, meaning Gonzaga needed just one win in the remaining two matches to secure the opening point. They clinched it on court two with a 6-0 win, leaving the top-line match unfinished as Kasumi Hirayama and Nika Beukers trailed 5-3 to Emily Robertson and Ella Nielsen.

In singles, the Bulldogs again earned a point due to forfeit, and quickly wrapped up the match—played to clinch—with straight-set victories at lines one and five to seal the 4-0 result.

The Vikings will turn their attention to a critical matchup tomorrow, Sunday, April 13, as they close out the regular season at Eastern Washington (11:00 a.m.). A win would lock in a spot for Portland State in the Big Sky Championship Tournament, set for April 24-26 in Phoenix, Ariz.

RESULTS

Doubles

1. Emily Robertson/Ella Nielsen vs. Kasumi Hirayama / Nika Beukers (PSU), 5-3 (unfinished)

2. Rose Hayes/Lia Espinal def. Ayra Salim / Nene Uemura (PSU), 6-0

3. Norhan Hesham/Safien Boulonois (won by forfeit)

Order of Finish: 3, 2

Singles

1. Emily Robertson def. Nika Beukers (PSU), 6-2, 6-1

2. Norhan Hesham vs. Hana Abdelhamid (PSU), 7-6 (4), 1-0 (unfinished)

3. Ella Nielsen vs. Nene Uemura (PSU), 6-3, 4-3 (unfinished)

4. Rose Hayes vs. Kasumi Hirayama (PSU), 7-6 (6), 0-0 (unfinished)

5. Safien Boulonois def. Ayra Salim (PSU), 6-1, 6-4

6. Lia Espinal (won by forfeit)

Order of Finish: 6, 1, 5

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