Pilots improve to 2-2 against ranked opponents
MORAGA, Calif. --- The University of Portland men’s tennis team earned an impressive 4-3 victory over No. 72 Saint Mary’s Saturday afternoon on the road. Portland (6-4), playing its second ranked opponent in as many days, clinched the win with Joel Kincaid’s three set comeback victory at the No. 4 position.
With the score tied 3-3, the match between Kincaid and Adam Fauvre was the deciding point. Fauvre had taken the first set 6-2, but Kincaid evened it with a 7-5 second set win. The third set went to a tiebreaker and the sophomore from Portland held on 7-3.
Portland opened the day by sweeping doubles action with three close matches, earning 8-6, 8-7 and 8-5 victories.
Saint Mary’s (6-5) took two of the first three singles matches at the No. 1 through No. 3 positions. Portland senior Alex Strom defeated Andre Sion at No. 2, 6-4, 6-1 and the contest was even at 2-2.
Portland freshman Evan Schleining gave the Pilots a 3-2 lead with a straight-set win at the No. 6 (7-5, 6-4) over Alp Ozpinar. The Gaels evened the match when Yury Platanov defeated Charlie Yemm, 6-7 (6-8), 6-0, 6-0, setting up Kincaid’s thrilling victory.
The Pilots improved to 2-2 against ranked teams this season. Portland had lost on Friday at No. 64 Santa Clara.
The team will conclude its northern California road swing at UC Davis on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Results:
Portland 4, No. 72 Saint Mary’s 3
March 3 at Moraga, Calif.
Singles:
No. 1: Joel Kusnierz (SMC) def. Filip Zivkovic (POR) 6-4, 6-2
No. 2: Alex Strom (POR) def. Andre Sion (SMC) 6-4, 6-1
No. 3: Andrea Zannoni (SMC) def. Colby Jager (POR) 6-4, 6-4
No. 4: Joel Kincaid (POR) def. Adam Fauvre (SMC) 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3)
No. 5: Yury Platanov (SMC) def. Charlie Yemm (POR) 6-7 (6-8), 6-0, 6-0
No. 6: Evan Schleining (POR) def. Alp Ozpinar (SMC) 7-5, 6-4
Doubles:
No. 1: Zivkovic/Jager (POR) def. Fauvre/Ozpinar (SMC) 8-6
No. 2: Strom/Yemm (POR) def. Kusnierz/Platanov (SMC) 8-7 (8-6)
No. 3: Kincaid/ Schleining (POR) def. Sion/Christner (SMC) 8-5
