Redshirt freshman Filip Zivkovic improves to 3-0 in singles play for the Pilots

EUGENE, Ore. --- The University of Portland men’s tennis team suffered its first loss of the 2007, losing on the road to the Oregon Ducks 4-3 at the Student Tennis Center. Portland falls to 2-1 on the season, while Oregon improves to 4-1.

Portland earned the doubles point as the tandems of Colby Jager/Filip Zivkovic and Evan Schleining/Joel Kincaid picked up wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 position, respectively.

The singles matches would go the Ducks’ way, as only Zivkovic and Schleining came away winners for the Pilots. Zivkovic, playing at the No. 2 position, earned a 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over Marcos Verdasco, improving to 3-0 in singles early in the dual season. Schleining earned his first collegiate win at the No. 6 position, defeating Eric Pickard 6-3, 6-1.

Portland’s three other singles players all dropped their matches in straight sets.

The Pilots will look to regroup when they return to Eugene and face No. 70 UC Santa Barbara on Feb. 10 and No. 73 Brigham Young on Feb. 11.  Portland’s rigorous non-conference schedule continues at No. 18 Washington on Feb. 16. The Pilots will return home to face Linfield and Whitman in a doubleheader on Feb. 24.

Results:

Oregon 4, Portland 3

Doubles

No. 1: Colby Jager/Filip Zivkovic (Portland) def. Geoff Embry/Alexander Cornelissen (Oregon), 9-8 (4)

No. 2: Marcos Verdasco/ Francisco Gallardo (Oregon) def. Scott Kennell/Alex Strom (Portland), 8-5

No. 3: Evan Schleining/Joel Kincaid (Portland) def. Mike Myrhed/Stephen Wiechert (Oregon), 8-5

Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1

Singles

No. 1: Cornelissen (Oregon) def. Strom (Portland), 6-0, 6-3

No. 2: Zivkovic (Portland) def. Verdasco (Oregon), 7-6 (5), 6-4

No. 3: Myrhed (Oregon) def. Jager (Portland), 6-3, 6-4

No. 4: Gallardo (Oregon) def. Kincaid (Portland), 7-5, 6-3

No. 5: Embry (Oregon) def. Charlie Yemm (Portland), 6-0, 6-4

No. 6: Schleining (Portland) def. Pickard (Oregon), 6-3, 6-1

Order of Finish: 5, 1, 6, 3, 4, 2