My char is a level 42 death plus storm and I play only with gear I was able to earn through leveling and missions, I did try PVP and so far my experience has been terrible - I keep getting matched with anything from Veteran and up guys with super gear and 50 % and higher resistance and extra damage - my char has as much chance to win as a snow flake in hell !!!
The matching system must consider more than just life and rank - equipment and resulting effects such as resistance and critical etc,.. MUST be a part of the equation or else PVP will be a game played by cash invested = win
If everything that people wanted the rank system to include were put in. No one would ever get a match unless you played an exact clone of yourself lol..
My advice get some resistance gear of your own maybe.
You're probably against ice and their strongest point is their defensive capabilities. I suggest that you start thinking of an strategy to overcome these defensive giants.