PORTLAND, Ore. – Dropping just one set, the Portland Pilots men’s tennis team overpowered the Montana State Bobcats 7-0 Friday morning at the Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center. With the shutout, the Pilots move to 2-3 in dual play.
Portland earned the doubles point by winning two of the three matches. Filip Zivkovic and Evan Schleining were 8-4 winners at the top doubles position, while Geoff Hernandez and Nick Wales earned an 8-2 win at No. 3 doubles. Jackson Martin and Daniel Coelho lost a close 8-7 battle at the No. 2 doubles.
"We played well today,” said head coach Aaron Gross. “Some of the highlights included a very solid performance in doubles by Hernandez and Wales winning handily.”
Senior Zivkovic endured a tough first set loss 6-7 to then go on to cruise to victory with 6-3, 6-1 set wins. Junior Bryan Thorp earned a 6-4, 6-2 win at the singles No. 2 spot.
“Filip (Zivkovic) played a very good player at No. 1 singles and came up with an excellent third set to clinch the win for the team,” said Gross. “Bryan (Thorp) may have played his best match of the season today.”
Also earning straight-set wins were sophomore Hernandez at the No. 3, senior Schleining at the No. 4, junior Daniel Coelho at the No. 5 and freshman Martin at the No. 6 position.
“It was a good effort all around,” said Gross. ‘We will need more of the same against UC Davis."
The Pilot men continue their play at home when they take on UC Davis on Sunday, Feb. 7. First serve is set for 9:00 a.m. at the Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center.
Portland 7, Montana State 0
Portland, Ore. (Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center)
February 5, 2010
Singles
Doubles
1. Schleining/Zivkovic (UP) def. Turzanski/Smith (MSU) 8-4
2. Keyes/Fuentes (MSU) def. Martin/Coelho (UP) 8-7
3. Hernandez/Wales (UP) def. Perkins/Ferrero (MSU) 8-2
