Men's Tennis Opens League Play with Win over Gonzaga
Video Highlights, Postgame Reaction
PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots men's tennis team knocked off Northwest rival Gonzaga 6-1 in West Coast Conference action Saturday afternoon at the Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center. Portland improves to 6-4 overall and 1-0 in league play, while Gonzaga falls to 8-6 overall and 0-2 in conference.
"It was a trying day," Portland head coach Aaron Gross said. "I don't think we played our best tennis, which is concerning. On the other hand, we came away with a fairly convincing win. It was nice to see Kent Andreasen and Alex Wallace step in and stay composed under pressure and come up with some wins."
The match started with the Pilots sweeping the doubles point as the tandem of Reid deLaubenfels and Kent Andreasen cruised to an 8-2 win at No. 2 doubles. Seniors Michel Hu Kwo and Justin Guay secured the point with an 8-6 win at No. 3 doubles and then seniors Alex Ferrero and Ratan Gill came back from a 7-4 deficit to win 8-7 and close out doubles play.
The Pilots had to overcome adversity as Hu Kwo battled illness and had to pull out of singles competition. Portland responded as Gill won in straight sets at the No. 2 position and then Ferrero secured a three-set win at No. 3. Nick Kamisar held off deLaubenfels to give Gonzaga its lone point at No. 1 singles.
Portland carried the momentum into the second wave of singles play as Andreasen secured the match with a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 6. Guay and freshman Alex Wallace each won in three sets to conclude the match.
"I think our older guys know that we have to play better against this very rugged stretch of schedule coming up," Gross added. "I believe we will rise to the challenge."
The Pilots will prepare for a busy upcoming stretch that includes four home matches in five days. That run begins on Thursday at 9 a.m. versus Hawaii. Portland then hosts Saint Mary's on Friday at 11 a.m., Pacific on Saturday at 11 a.m. and then Idaho on Monday at 9 a.m.
Portland 6, Gonzaga 1
Portland, Ore. (Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center)
March 22, 2014
Singles
1. KAMISAR, Nick (GON) def. DeLAUBENFELS, Reid (POR) 6-1, 7-5
2. GILL, Ratan (POR) def. SMITH, Hayden (GON) 6-3, 7-5
3. FERRERO, Alex (POR) def. MIJATOVIC, Vladimir (GON) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
4. GUAY, Justin (POR) def. SCHOEBEL, Jack (GON) 6-2, 1-6, 6-3
5. WALLACE, Alex (POR) def. ISMATH, Muzeen (GON) 6-7, 6-2, 1-0 (10-6)
6. ANDREASEN, Kent (POR) def. PEREZ MOSQUERA, P. (GON) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles
1. GILL, Ratan/FERRERO, Alex (POR) def. ISMATH, Muzeen/SCHOEBEL, Jack (GON) 8-7 (8-6)
2. DeLAUBENFELS, Reid/ANDREASEN, Kent (POR) def. MIJATOVIC, Vladimir/BRANDT, Joey (GON) 8-2}
3. HU KWO, Michel/GUAY, Justin (POR) def. KAMISAR, Nick/PEREZ MOSQUERA, P. (GON) 8-6
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,1,3,6,4)
