DAVIS, Calif. – Sophomore Carlos Donat posted a comeback victory at No. 4 singles to provide the clinching point as the Portland Pilots defeated Grand Canyon to claim the Golden State Invitational title on Sunday afternoon at the Marya Welch Tennis Center. The Pilots improve to 9-1 on the season, while the Yotes fall to 9-8 overall.
For the second day in row, the Pilots were involved in a match that came down to the wire. Portland defeated host UC Davis by a 4-3 margin on Saturday in a grueling contest that snapped a 21-match home win streak for the Aggies. Head coach Aaron Gross knew that playing a third match in three days on the heels of Saturday's effort was going to provide a tough challenge.
"Before the match today I read the team the quotes that I would be giving if we did what most normal teams do after a really tough and tiring match the day before," Gross said. "I told them that we tried our best and we played really hard, but we are just a little bit too tired to come through. I probably would not have been too far off from the truth with those sentiments, but we talked about having a special opportunity to prove ourselves against a very good team after a really long and tough match last night."
The Pilots responded by securing the all-important doubles point. Juniors Michail Pervolarakis and Mathieu Garcia won 6-4 at No. 1 to finish the weekend a perfect 3-0. Pierre Garcia and Felix Fan then clinched the point with a 6-3 win at the No. 2 spot.
"I feel like we are starting to find a stride in doubles," Gross noted. "We have been really pressing to try and find a way to win that point. I feel like the last couple of days we have played a little looser and gone out there with a bit more of a nothing to lose mentality and it has worked. Pierre particularly played very good doubles today to clinch the point for us."
The Pilots quickly went ahead 3-0 as Pervolarakis and Mathieu Garcia cruised to straight set wins at the top two singles positions.
The Yotes answered with wins at No. 3, No. 5 and No. 6 to tie the score and set up the deciding match between Donat and Lorenzo Fucile. After dropping the first set, Donat was dominant with a 6-1 win in the second set and 6-0 clincher in the third.
"Mike and Mathieu are just on fire in both singles and doubles," Gross said. "They led the way with two quick victories in singles. Carlos has had a tough time finding his form lately, but after losing the first set he came back and won the final two sets very decisively. That was the best tennis he has played so far this spring.
"We didn't set out to win this dual match tournament, but it is a nice bonus to feel like we took home a title. More importantly, we showed a lot of heart and toughness getting through three matches in three days. I think we come home with a lot to be proud about."
The Pilots will return home and host the Montana State Bobcats on Tuesday at 10 a.m. Portland will look to extend its 15-match home win streak and the contest will have live coverage with scoring and video at PortlandPilots.com.
Portland 4, Grand Canyon 3
Davis, Calif. (Marya Welch Tennis Center)
March 12, 2017
Singles
1. #97 PERVOLARAKIS, Mike (POR) def. Francois Musitelli (GCU) 6-0, 6-1
2. GARCIA, Mathieu (POR) def. Mathieu Rajaonah (GCU) 6-3, 6-0
3. Adrian Legarreta (GCU) def. GARCIA, Pierre (POR) 6-4, 6-3
4. DONAT, Carlos (POR) def. Lorenzo Fucile (GCU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-0
5. Valentin Lang (GCU) def. FAN, Felix (POR) 7-6, 6-3
6. Justin Cvitanovic (GCU) def. MADISON, Jared (POR) 7-6, 6-2
Doubles
1. PERVOLARAKIS, Mike/GARCIA, Mathieu (POR) def. Philip Kuehnen/Adrian Legarreta (GCU) 6-4
2. GARCIA, Pierre/FAN, Felix (POR) def. Mathieu Ounanian/Mathieu Rajaonah (GCU) 6-3
3. Lorenzo Fucile/Valentin Lang (GCU) def. DONAT, Carlos/FISHER, Jamie (POR) 6-4
Match Notes:
Grand Canyon 9-8
Portland 9-1
