PORTLAND, Ore. – It was a lengthy affair in Portland Friday afternoon, as the Gaels rallied from a 1-0 deficit to beat the Portland Pilots 4-2.
 
SLOW START
Friday's early morning action got underway with the doubles matches, as the Gaels fought hard to steal the point from Portland. #87 doubles team in the country, Jordan Harris and Lene Mari Hovda, did what they do best, as they comfortably handled the Pilots pairing of Rimona Rouf and Aleksandra Dimitrijevic 6-1. 
 
In the #2 match, Iman Khan and Stefanie Silva fought a tough match against Meagan Pearson and Alaia Rubio Perez. Khan and Silva got off a great start, but the Portland duo quickly began to pull away, winning the close match 6-4. 
 
The doubles point came down to the third match, and unfortunately the Gaels pairing of Olivia Rook and Tian Yu Dong barely had a chance to get off the mark. They were forced to retire with the Pilots pairing of Rose Watanabe and Iva Zelic leading 3-0. With the retirement, Portland held the slight 1-0 advantage heading into singles. 
 
TRIUMPHANT SINGLES
The singles match's begun soon after, as the Gaels looked to make the comeback on the Pilots.
 
All but one single's match went three sets, as the Gaels dug deep to beat the Pilots away from home. 
 
Jordan Harris was unable win her match, despite playing well against Portland's Iva Zelic. The Pilots player won the first match 6-3, but Harris was able to fight back to win the second 6-4. With all to play for in the third set, Zelic used home court to her advantage, winning the set 6-3 and clinching the victory as well. 
 
In the #3 match, Iman Khan played composed tennis to win her match in two sets. After a tough first set resulted in a 7-6 victory, Khan found her stride, confidently beating Aleksandra Dimitrijevic to win the second set 6-2. 
 
The #2 match featured on of the best matches of the day, as SMC's Lene Mari Hovda battled Portland's Rimona Rouf. After dropping the first set 4-6, Hovda found her rhythm, as she bounced back to win the second set 6-3.
 
With all to play for in the third set, both players fought tooth and nail for every point. Hovda dug deep, winning two crucial games in the end of the third to complete the defiant comeback. The SMC player narrowly won the third set 7-5, tying the overall score at two points apiece with three matches to go. 
 
Freshman Tian Yu Dong also found herself in the heat of battle against Portland's Meagan Pearson. After Dong solidly won the first set 6-3, she got caught on the flip side, losing the second set 6-3. The young Gael was undeterred, as she stormed back in the third set to dominate Pearson 6-0.
 
Stefanie Silva was a wizard in the #5 match, as she too faced a three-set thriller. After winning the first set 6-3, her opponent, Alaia Rubio Perez, was able to get herself back into the match by winning the second set 6-2. Silva wouldn't go down without a fight, as she knew she could clinch the overall victory with a third set win. 
 
She dug deep, fighting off every return Perez had for her. As they entered a third set tiebreak, Silva stepped it up a notch, propelling past Perez to win the third set 7-5, clinching the impressive overall victory in the process. 
 
Madison Weekley's match was tied a one set a piece before it was called off. Weekley won the first set 6-4 before her opponent, Kylie Canubida, bounced back to win the second 6-1.
 
Saint Mary's (7-9) vs Portland Pilots (9-7)
April 14, 2023 in Portland, Ore. 
Louisiana Pacific Tennis Center
 
Doubles
 

1. Jordan Harris/Lene Mari Hovda (SMC) def. Rimona Rouf/Aleksandra Dimitrijevic (POR), 6-1
2. Meagan Pearson/Alaia Rubio Perez (POR) def. Iman Khan/Stefanie Silva (SMC), 6-4
3. Rose Watanabe/Iva Zelic (POR) vs Olivia Rook/Tian Yu Dong (SMC), 3-0, ret. *

 
Order of Finish – 1, 2, 3 *
 
Singles 
 

1. Iva Zelic (POR) def. Jordan Harris (SMC), 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 
2. Lene Mari Hovda (SMC) def. Rimona Rouf (POR), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 
3. Iman Khan (SMC) def. Aleksandra Dimitrijevic (POR), 7-6, 6-2
4. Tian Yu Dong (SMC) def. Meagan Pearson (POR), 6-3, 3-6, 6-0
5. Stefanie Silva (SMC) def. Alaia Rubio Perez (POR), 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 ^
6. Madison Weekley vs Kylie Canubida (POR), 6-4, 1-6

Order of Finish – 3, 1, 2, 4, 5 ^
 
^ Clinched overall win
 
NEXT UP
The Gaels will be back action tomorrow as they'll head to Spokane to face off against Gonzaga at 12 PM.