PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots defeated the Montana Grizzles 6-1 on Friday before sweeping the Eastern Washington Eagles on Saturday in men’s tennis action at the Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center. The Pilots (10-2) have been fueled by the return of senior No. 1 singles player Joel Kincaid and the play from the 36th-ranked doubles duo of junior Even Schleining and freshman Nikoloz Kurdadze.
Kincaid, who was injured in the home opener and spent the last six weeks recovering, made a strong comeback winning both singles matches in the No. 2 spot last weekend. He also claimed a victory with doubles partner Kurdadze against EWU, also at the No. 2 position.
"We have had these matches circled on our calendar for a while,” said Coach Aaron Gross. “These were two of our bigger tests in this first half of the season. We lost to EWU last year and barely squeaked by Montana. To win as decisively as we did is big for us at this point. It was really nice having Joel back. After his six-week break he is not match sharp, but he played very well under the circumstances."
Portland’s only two losses so far this season came from Big Sky conference leader Sacramento State, 4-3, and No. 41 Washington, 7-0, in its season opener.
"We have a super-busy March with trips to Southern Cal and the east coast,” continued Gross. “We could not ask for a better first half of the year. We learned a lot about where we are and our competitive toughness. The second half of the season will really test us in a variety of different conditions away from home. I am confident we will rise to the challenge and continue to improve."
The Pilots take a two-week hiatus before a pair of road matches against UC Irvine and UC Riverside. Portland faces the Anteaters on Friday, March 13 at 9:00 a.m. in Irvine, Calif., and the Highlanders on Saturday, March 14 at 1:00 p.m. in Riverside, Calif.
Portland 6, Montana 1
Louisiana Pacific Tennis Center
Portland, Ore.
February 27, 2009
Singles
1. Filip Zivkovic (POR) def. Colin Dektar (MON) 6-1, 6-2
2. Joel Kincaid (POR) def. Mikolaj Borkowski (MON) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
3. Geoff Hernandez (POR) def. Felipe Raw (MON) 6-1, 6-4
4. Bryan Thorp (POR) def. Raydner Ramos (MON) 3-6, 6-3, 10-5
5. Nikoloz Kurdadze (POR) def. Carl Kuschke (MON) 6-4, 6-4
6. David Cysneiros (MON) def. Nick Wales (POR) 7-5, 3-6, 10-8
Doubles
1. #36 Schleining/Zivkovic (POR) def. Borkowski/Kuschke (MON) 8-6
2. Thorp/Kurdadze (POR) def. Raw/Ramos (MON) 8-4
3. Hernandez/ Wales (POR) def. Dektar/Cysneiros (MON) 8-4
Portland 7, Eastern Washington 0
Louisiana Pacific Tennis Center
Portland, Ore.
February 28, 2009
Singles
1. Filip Zivkovic (POR) def. Nico Riego de Dios (EWU) 6-3, 6-3
2. Joel Kincaid (POR) def. Kyle Schraeder (EWU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Geoff Hernandez (POR) def. Art Karas (EWU) 7-6, 6-4
4. Nikoloz Kurdadze (POR) def. Daniel Pez (EWU) 6-4, 6-7, 10-5
5. Bryan Thorp (POR) def. Kenneth Norling (EWU) 6-0, 3-1, ret.
6. Nick Wales (POR) def. Julian Sanchez (EWU) 6-1, 7-6
Doubles
1. #36 Schleining/Zivkovic (POR) def. Riego de Dios/Schraeder (EWU) 8-2
2. Kincaid/Kurdadze (POR) def. Sanchez/Pez (EWU) 8-6
3. Hernandez/ Wales (POR) def. Pannhara Mam/Karas (EWU) 8-6
