BOISE, Idaho — A pair of University of Portland men’s tennis freshmen recorded perfect weekends as both Alex Ferrero and Michel Hu Kwo were 3-0 as the Pilots picked up two wins and a tough loss this weekend at the Boise State Spring Break Classic held at the BOAS Indoor Tennis Complex in Boise.

The tournament was played in a shortened format, meaning doubles was only played if the match was tied 3-3 after singles. None of the Pilots (10-5) matches made it to doubles play, but the opener against Wichita State (8-4) nearly reached the doubles tiebreak.

Portland posted two victories as Ferrero won in three sets at No. 1 and Hu Kwo recorded a straight set win at No. 5. Portland’s closest match that did not result in victory came at No. 3 where Geoff Hernandez won the second set against the Shockers No. 3 Matheus Pereira but was unable to secure the win in the third set.

“Wichita State was a tough team,” said head coach Aaron Gross. “We needed for everything to go right in that match and it didn’t.”

The Pilots rebounded with 5-1 victories against both Eastern Washington (7-10) and Ball State (8-10).

“We bounced back really well with a focused effort against EWU and then had one of our better wins of the season over Ball State,” Gross said.

The victory Friday against EWU was the second of the season for the Pilots over the Eagles. All of Portland’s victories against Eastern Washington came in straight sets.

Saturday as Ferrero and Hu Kwo wrapped up perfect weekends, Hu Kwo also recorded his third straight set win of the weekend.

“Alex Ferrero and Michel Hukwo really highlighted the weekend,” Gross said. “They both won all three of their matches. Michel won all of his in straight sets, with his last two coming in convincing fashion and Alex battled his way through his wins."

With only four dual matches remaining before the West Coast Conference Championships, the Pilots return home to begin the final stretch against Portland State on April 2 inside the Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center at 10 a.m.

Boise State Spring Break Classic
March 25-26, 2011
Boise, Idaho
BOAS Indoor Tennis Complex

Wichita State (8-4) 4
Portland (8-5) 2
March 25, 2011
1 – Alex Ferrero (UP) def. Vlad Marinescu (WSU), 4-6, 6-4, 10-5
2 – David Cavalcanti (WSU) def. Bryan Thorp (UP), 6-3, 6-2
3 – Guillermo Nicol (WSU) def. Geoff Hernandez (UP), 6-1, 2-6, 6-2
4 – Matheus Pereira (WSU) def. Ratan Gill (UP), 6-2, 6-4
5 – Michel Hu Kwo (UP) def. Valentin Mihai (WSU), 7-6, 7-6
6 – Adrian Chermaci (WSU) def. Justin Guay (UP), 6-4, 6-3

Portland (9-5) 5
Eastern Washington (7-10) 1
March 25, 2011
1 – Alex Ferrero (UP) def. Mario Navarro (EWU), 6-2, 6-1
2 – Fernando Mussolini (EWU) def. Bryan Thorp (UP), 6-2, 6-3
3 – Geoff Hernandez (UP) def. Stefan Simikic (EWU), 7-6, 6-2
4 – Michel Hu Kwo (UP) def. Julian Sanchez (EWU), 6-2, 6-2
5 – Ratan Gill (UP) def. Kyle Koetje (EWU), 6-1, 6-1
6 – Justin Guay (UP) def. James Russell (EWU), 6-2, 6-3

Portland (10-5) 5
Ball State (8-10) 1
March 26, 2011
1 – Alex Ferrero (UP) def. Dalton Albertin (BS) 6-3, 6-2
2 – Zane Smith (BS) def. Bryan Thorp (UP), 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
3 – Geoff Hernandez (UP) def. Alexandre Brym (BS), 7-5, 6-3
4 – Michel Hu Kwo (UP) def. Austin Sansone (BS), 7-5, 6-0
5 – Ratan Gill (UP) def. Austin Smith (BS), 6-2, 6-2
6 – Justin Guay (UP) def. Shaun Bussert (BS), 4-6, 6-2, 6-4