Facing the three-time defending Class 6A state champions, Summit High more than held its own Saturday in a 5-3 boys tennis defeat to Portland’s Jesuit at the Athletic Club of Bend.

Paxton Deuel won his No. 1 singles match 6-0, 6-1 to pace the Storm in their first dual of the season.

“The Jesuit coach told us that was the closest dual match they’ve played in eight years,” Summit assistant coach Matt Ridgway said. “The guys played really good.”

The Storm’s No. 3 doubles team, brothers Bo and Liam Hall, knocked off Jesuit’s Anoth Mohan and Riley Hazard 6-3, 6-4, and Summit’s Drew Peters and William Dalquist notched a win at the No. 4 doubles slot, besting the Crusaders’ Mitchell Morse and Matt Shinseki 6-3, 7-5.

“It was a great way to kick off the season,” Ridgway said. “The guys knew it was going to be tough going in. Jesuit is a great team.”

Connor Leahy, Sam Malech and Eric Ho all won singles matches for Jesuit, which was also making its season debut.

Summit, which tied for second at the Class 5A state tourney last season, is off this week for spring break before playing at Redmond on April 5.