PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland women's tennis team pulled out a close 4-3 victory over the Santa Clara Broncos Saturday in West Coast Conference action at the Louisiana Pacific Tennis Center. Freshman Emily Soares broke the tie with a come-from-behind three set win to clinch the match for Portland.

The Pilots improve to 6-6 overall and 2-0 in league play, while the Broncos drop to 4-6 and 0-1 in conference on the season.

The Pilots had to overcome losing the doubles point narrowly, but were able to win four of the six singles matches to come out ahead.

Santa Clara went ahead 2-0 when Madison Clarke defeated Pilot freshman Jelena Lukic at No. 1 singles, but Portland would answer by winning the next three singles decisions.

Sophomore Radina Dimitrova cruised to a 6-2, 6-1 victory against Daniella Silva at the No. 2 spot and then senior Jelena Lazarevic defeated Nabila Farah 6-2, 7-6 at No. 3 singles. It was her seventh singles win in the last eight matches.

Sophomore Tatiana Grigoryan gave the Pilots a 3-2 lead with a 6-3, 6-2 win against Zeina El Tawil at No. 4 to extend her singles win streak to six matches.

The Broncos evened the score as Giannina Ong pulled out a three set win against Anna Oberg to set up the deciding match at No. 5 singles.

Soares overcame a first set loss to Caitlyn Frankel to win 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.

Portland will continue WCC play next week with a tough road trip to BYU and San Diego. The Pilots visit the Cougars on Friday for a noon start and then take on San Diego on Sunday at 11 a.m.

Portland 4, Santa Clara 3
Portland, Ore. (Louisiana Pacific Tennis Center)
March 25, 2017

Singles
1. Madison Clarke (SCU) def. Jelena Lukic (UP) 6-4, 6-2
2. Radina Dimitrova (UP) def. Daniella Silva (SCU) 6-2, 6-1
3. Jelena Lazarevic (UP) def. Nabila Farah (SCU) 6-2, 7-6 (4)
4. Tatiana Grigoryan (UP) def. Zeina El Tawil (SCU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Emily Soares (UP) def. Caitlyn Frankel (SCU) 5-7, 6-2, 6-2
6. Giannina Ong (SCU) def. Anna Oberg (UP) 0-6, 6-1, 6-1

Doubles
1. Clarke/Silva (SCU) def. Lukic/Lazarevic (UP) 6-1
2. Dimitrova/Grigoryan (UP) def. Farah/Frankel (SCU) 6-2
3. El Tawil/Ong (SCU) def. Oberg/Soares (UP) 7-5

Match Notes:
Portland 6-6, 2-0 WCC
Santa Clara 4-6, 0-1 WCC
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,2,3,4,6,5)