SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The University of Portland men’s tennis team earned a 4-2 win at the West Coast Conference Championships being played at the Barnes Tennis Center against Northwest rivals the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

After dropping the doubles point, the Pilots battled back in singles action earning four victories. Three of the Portland victories came in straight sets beginning with freshman Alex Ferrero at no. 1. Junior Geoff Hernandez and senior Bryan Thorp picked up straight wins at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.

"Bryan Thorp came through with a much needed singles win,” said Pilots head coach Aaron Gross. “He played disciplined tennis today and got it done.”

Justin Guay’s win at No. 6 proved tougher than his teammates. After winning the first set, Guay dropped the second set to Muzeen Ismath before winning the tiebreaker to clinch victory.

“Though Justin Guay did not play his best, he competed well and pulled out the decider 7-6 in the third,” Gross said. “Not pretty tennis today. But we competed well and got through to play another match."

The Pilots continue the WCC Championships tomorrow at 8 a.m. against Loyola Marymount in the Fifth Place Match.

Portland 4
Gonzaga 2
April 22, 2011
Barnes Tennis Center
San Diego, Calif.

Doubles –
1: Alex Ferrero/Ratan Gill (UP) def. Zhia Hwa Chong/Scott Sullivan (GON) 8-2
2: Conor Feeney/Pablo Mosquera (GON) def. Michel Hu Kwo/Justin Guay (UP) 9-7
3: Jake Davis/Levin Guillermo (GON) def. Nick Wales/Geoff Hernandez (UP) 8-3

Singles –
1: Ferrero (UP) def. Guillermo (GON) 6-2, 6-4
2: Hernandez (UP) def. Feeney (GON) 6-0, 6-4
3: Bryan Thorp (UP) def. Kevin Eischen (GON) 6-4, 6-4
4: Hu Kwo v. Hwa Chong (GON) 2-6, 6-4, 3-4 dnf
5: Sullivan (GON) def. Gill (UP) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
6: Guay (UP) def. Muzeen Ismath (GON) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(5)