Portland State’s tennis teams had a difficult time on their road trip to Southern California. Both the men’s and women’s teams suffered losses to Cal State Los Angeles and UC Riverside. The women also lost to Cal State Fullerton, and the men’s squad fell to Loyola Marymount.
The closest matchup for the women came against Cal State L.A. The Vikings lost to Cal State 5-4. Portland State’s points came from their number five and six spots in the singles with Karolina Puk and Abby Schagunn winning their matches. Puk defeated CSLA’s, Michelle Gee, 7-5 and 6-2. Following her teammate, Schagunn beat her opponent Charys Scotton, 6-1 and 6-1.
The Vikings added two more points with their wins in the doubles matches. No. 2 Blaze Wadum/Puk defeated their CSLA opponents 8-4 and No.3 Schagunn/Holly Meldahi were victorious 9-7.
The number four match was a close one as Cal State’s Brittany Keeler defeated PSU’s Holly Meldahi, 6-4 in both sets.
“That was a match that we should have won 7-2,” head coach Leslie Lewis said.
Another close match that the Vikings should have won came in the women’s No.1 doubles match. Melinda Johnson and Katie Slizewski lost to Encina/Menzel of CSLA 8-6.
“We could see the freshmen area really coming around,” Lewis explained.
The men’s matches, as a team, were not quite as close as the women but one was a bit lengthy. In his marathon match against UC Riverside, Kapil Desai out-played his opponent in a four-hour match. Desai, the No. 2 player, out-lasted Walt Hearn of UCR and emerged the tired victor in this grueling four-hour event (7-6, 3-6, 7-5). Desai was the Vikings’ only victor in the meet with UC Riverside prevailing 6-1.
“Kapil had an incredible match,” Lewis said. “It was just whoever wanted it more and our guy gave it his all.”
The tennis teams get a nice break to recover and train before they hit the road March 22. The Vikings will be traveling to Haines City, Fla. to face Wright State over spring break.