PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Pilots men’s tennis team was one singles win away from beating Oregon at home on Saturday but it was the Ducks that would take home the 4-3 win. The senior duo of Filip Zivkovic and Evan Schleining went undefeated in both doubles and singles play this week as the Pilots took down cross-town rivals Portland State 7-0 on Friday.
“It was hard fought on both sides,” said head coach Aaron Gross. “It would have been nice to come out on top, but I am really proud of this group of guys for their effort today. The Ducks lost 4-3 to the No. 22 team in the country (Boise State) last weekend. They are a good squad and this effort hopefully shows our guys that we can play with almost anyone if we play hard."
Zivkovic and Schleining enjoyed an 8-6 doubles victory but it would be the Ducks who would claim the doubles point with wins at the No. 2 and 3 spots.
In singles action, the seniors continued their winning ways. Zivkovic was forced to a tiebreaker both sets but would sweep Marcos Verdasco 7-6, 7-6. In a must win situation for the Pilots, Schleining defeated Nico Bjerke at the No. 3 singles position to keep Portland in the competition.
“Evan had an incredible effort,” said Gross. “He beat a very solid player in a tight three-set match to keep us in it. Filip as usual came up big in singles and doubles.”
Junior transfer Daniel Coelho won a three-set battle at the No. 5 spot against Aaron Clissold.
“Daniel had a very nice singles win. We had a great overall effort today,” said Gross. “Our guys played so hard. We really took a step in the right direction even though we lost.”
Oregon junior Duncan MacDonald-Korth solidified the win for the Ducks as he defeated freshman Jackson Martin 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 at the No. 6 position.
Portland (1-3) continues its home stand with matches against Montana State on Friday, Feb. 5 and UC Davis on Sunday, Feb. 7. Both matches are set to begin at 9:00 a.m.
Oregon 4, Portland 3
Portland, Ore. (Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center)
January 30, 2010
Singles
1. Filip Zivkovic (UP) def. Marcos Verdasco (UO) 7-6, 7-6
2. Alexander Cornelissen (UO) def. Bryan Thorp (UP) 6-4, 6-1
3. Ric Mortera (UO) def. Geoff Hernandez (UP) 6-2, 6-4
4. Evan Schleining (UP) def. Nico Bjerke (UO) 7-5, 1-6, 7-5
5. Daniel Coelho (UP) def. Aaron Clissold (UO) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
6. Duncan MacDonald-Korth (UO) def. Jackson Martin (UP) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
Order: 2, 3, 1, 4, 6, 5
Doubles
1. Schleining/Zivkovic (UP) def. Cornelissen/Verdasco (UO) 8-6
2. Mortera/Bjerke (UO) def. Martin/Coelho (UP) 8-3
3. Izquierdo/Clissold (UO) def. Hernandez/Pigou (UP) 8-0
Order: 3, 2, 1
