Rubio Perez and galatescu shine as Portland Pilots Conclude Fall Tennis Season
Portland Pilots tennis concluded its fall season on a high note at the Gonzaga Invite in Spokane, Washington, from October 31st to November 2nd, 2025, highlighted by a dominant performance from the doubles duo of Alaia Rubio Perez and Maria Galatescu. The pair secured their second topflight doubles title of the season,building on their earlier victory at the Cougar classic in September.
Rubio Perez’s strong showing extended to singles play,where she reached the finals of the topflight draw. Sophomores Lexie Flores and isabella Marquart also contributed to the team’s success, reaching the finals of the red Doubles Draw. the Pilots demonstrated remarkable form, going 8-4 in doubles matches and achieving a total of 12 singles victories throughout the tournament.
doubles Dominance Fuels Pilots’ Success
The partnership of Rubio Perez and Galatescu proved particularly potent. They began their run at the Gonzaga Invite with a 6-4 victory over Zoe Pradel and Olivia Marais of Eastern Washington. They continued their winning streak, defeating Nia Gelashvili and Angel Bean of Montana State 7-6 (5) in the quarterfinals. A hard-fought 7-6 (7) win against Hinata Furutani and Olivia Symons of Oregon propelled them into the final, where they ultimately triumphed over Gonzaga’s Robertson and nielsen with a decisive 6-2 score.
“The chemistry between Alaia and Maria is undeniable,” a senior official stated. “Their ability to complement each other’s strengths is a major asset for the team.”
Flores and Marquart also made a significant impact in doubles competition. They started strong with a 6-2 win over Hana Abdelhamid and Scarlett perkins of Portland State, followed by a 6-4 victory against Brooke Bittner and Yanotovskaya of Gonzaga in the quarterfinals. Their impressive run continued with a 6-4 win over Hanna Koprowska and Ida Johansson of Idaho in the semifinals,before falling to Rose Hayes and Nazarenko of Gonzaga 7-6 (7) in the final.
Singles Competition Showcases Individual Talent
Rubio Perez’s singles journey was marked by consistent victories.She began with a commanding 6-2, 6-0 win over Leandra Nizetic of Eastern Washington. She then defeated Terezia Mlkva of Utah State 6-2,7-5 in the quarterfinals and Rose Hayes of Gonzaga 7-6 (7),6-3 in the semifinals. Her run ultimately ended in the final,where she was defeated by Gonzaga’s Emily Robertson 6-3,6-3.
Other notable singles performances included Flores and Galatescu navigating challenging brackets in the Blue Singles draw. Flores secured a win against terezia Stverakova of Montana State 6-3, 0-6, 10-8, while Galatescu defeated Lola Tavcar of Seattle 6-4, 2-6, 10-6 and Magdalena Nunez Pureco of Utah State 6-4, 6-1.
In the Gold Singles draw, Marquart opened with a 3-6, 7-6 (5), 10-2 victory over Kavya Khirwar of Montana State before falling to Meghna Anand of Montana 6-2, 2-6, 10-5 in the quarterfinals.
looking Ahead to the Spring Season
The Gonzaga Invite marked the conclusion of the fall season for the Portland Pilots. The team will now focus on preparation for the spring dual season, wich is set to begin with an East Coast road trip from January 22nd to 25th. The Pilots will face Stonehill College, Brown University, and Bryant University during this challenging stretch.
the team’s performance at the Gonzaga Invite provides a strong foundation for the upcoming spring season. With a winning record in doubles play and several strong individual performances in singles, the Pilots are poised for continued success.Fans can follow the team’s progress and find more details at PortlandPilots.com.
