MORAGA, Calif. – The University of Portland’s men’s tennis team was victorious in its final dual of the 2005-06 season, defeating Gonzaga 4-1 on Sunday morning at the West Coast Conference Tennis Championships in Moraga. The win gives the Pilots seventh place in the tournament.

The doubles matches was played first, with the Pilots taking the point after winning two of three doubles matches. With the doubles point decided, the remaining match was pulled off the court. Portland got an 8-3 win from Scott Kennel and James Redpath at the No. 1 position, while Alex Strom (pictured) and Carlos Machado improved to 4-1 with an 8-2 win at No. 3.

In singles, the Pilots got straight-set victories from Matthew Loucks, Joel Kincaid, and Strom to claim the dual. The Pilots’ only blemish was in No. 3 singles, where Scott Kennel was defeated 6-3, 7-5 by Gonzaga’s Cooper Fratt.

The Pilots end the season with an 11-14 overall record. Gonzaga will finish with a 6-22 mark.

The dual against Gonzaga marked the final match in Portland colors for seniors Matthew Loucks and James Redpath. Loucks finishes the season tied with Strom for the team lead in overall singles wins (15). Redpath finishes just behind Loucks and Strom with 13 wins.

Portland will begin its 2006-07 season next September.

NOTES: Loucks ends his Pilot career having won eight of his past nine singles matches … Redpath ends the season with a 13-12 singles record and a 13-11 overall doubles mark … Loucks (15), Strom (15), Redpath (13), Kennel (12), and Kincaid (11) each broke into double figures in overall singles wins this season … Kennel finishes with the team lead in doubles wins (19), followed by Redpath and Strom (13).