Box Score MISSOULA, Montana — Utah State women's tennis won their fourth consecutive match on Saturday, defeating Portland, 4-3, in a neutral site match at the Peak Racquet Club.
 
"Today was a really nice win for us," head coach Sean McInerney said. "Portland has a very talented team and we found a way to squeeze out four points. Sidnee (Lavatai), in her first match back, was incredible and really played a tough match to clinch the win for us. I am really proud of the team and now we look forward to BYU on Friday.""
 
The Aggies fell into an early hole in doubles play. After a 6-3 victory for each team at the first and third positions, the doubles point came down to a tiebreak at the second spot. Seniors Annaliese County and Gabrielle Dekkers came up just short in the final volleys, losing to Sally Pethybridge and Rimona Rouf, 7-6 (4), to give the Pilots the early advantage.
 
Junior Carolina Millan quickly avenged the doubles point, starting singles play with a straight set victory over Pethybridge, 6-1, 6-1, to knot the match at one. The teams continued to alternate points as junior Zeynep Naz Ozturk fell on court three to again give the Pilots a slim advantage. County then responded with a straight-set victory of her own at the fourth position over Marija Elenova, 6-2, 6-4, to square the match at two apiece.
 
Portland again took a one-point lead with a victory at the No. 1-spot with a win over sophomore Lisa Kung. Junior Zara Ryan rebounded after dropping the second set to emerge victorious, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, over Portland's Rouf and bring the match down to the sixth position.
 
At the No. 6-spot, redshirt junior Sidnee Lavatai, playing in her first singles match since injuring her knee during the 2021 season, dropped the first set versus Portland's Jana Tanevska. The native of Murray, Utah, responded in full over the ensuing two sets to win, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, and clinch the Aggie victory.
 
With the win, Utah State is now 4-1, marking the best start by the Aggies since starting 5-1 in the 2017 season. USU has also now beaten Portland in three consecutive matches, all at neutral sites.
 
Utah State now returns home to Logan where they will play host to BYU at the Sports Academy & Racquet Club on Friday, March 4, at 11 a.m. (MT).
 
Fans can follow USU's women's tennis team on Twitter @USUWomensTennis, on Facebook at /UtahStateWomensTennis or on Instagram at USUWomensTennis.  Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.
 
RESULTS
Utah State 4, Portland 3
Peak Racquet Club
Missoula, Montana
 
Doubles
1. Iva Zelic/Neli Sunjic (UP) def. Zara Ryan/Sidnee Lavatai (USU) 6-3
2. Sally Pethybridge/Rimona Rouf (UP) def. Gabrielle Dekkers/Annaliese County (USU) 7-6 (4)
3. Carolina Millan/Zeynep Naz Ozturk (USU) def. Angela Schuster/Aleksandra Dimitrijevic (UP) 6-3
 
Singles
1. Zelic (UP) def. Lisa Kung (USU) 6-2, 6-4
2. Millan (USU) def. Pethybridge (UP) 6-1, 6-1
3. Sunjic (UP) def. Naz Ozturk (USU) 6-4, 6-3
4. County (USU) def. Marija Elenova (UP) 6-2, 6-4
5. Ryan (USU) def. Rouf (UP) 6-1, 2-6, 6-3
6. Lavatai (USU) def. Jana Tanevska (UP) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
 
Match Notes
Utah State: 4-1 (0-0 MW)
Portland: 2-4 (0-0 WCC)
Order of finish: Doubles (1, 2, 3); Singles (2, 3, 4, 1, 5, 6)
 
 - USU -