Video: Match Clinching Point
Video: Postmatch Interviews
PORTLAND, Ore. – The No. 50-ranked Portland men's tennis team made program history by claiming its first West Coast Conference title after a come-from-behind 4-3 win over rival Pepperdine Friday afternoon at the Louisiana Pacific Tennis Center. The match featured the two top teams from the conference with first place on the line and it turned into a marathon nail-biter that came down to the final game.
Sophomore Carlos Donat outlasted Jack Van Slyke, overcoming a first set loss and winning by a 7-5 margin in the third and deciding set to clinch the match. He was mobbed by teammates and head coach Aaron Gross, who is in his 20th season at the helm of the Pilots (17-2, 7-1 WCC).
"After today if my kids grow up and be happy and healthy humans I can die a happy man," Gross joked after the match. "Winning the conference title was something that I never would have dreamed we could have done. Until the last ball was hit I still didn't think of the reality of the situation. The complete commitment by these guys is just amazing."
Pepperdine (11-9, 6-2) took the doubles point with wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions to grab the early momentum and then five of the six singles matches went to three sets with Portland winning four of those matches.
Junior Mathieu Garcia defeated Stefan Menichella 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 at the No. 2 position and then junior Michail Pervolarakis claimed a 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 win over Guilherme Hadlich at No. 1 singles.
Pepperdine's Lautaro Pane tied the match at 2-2 with a three-set win over Pilot junior Pierre Garcia at No. 2.
Pepperdine seemed to wrestle control of the match after Dane Esses beat Pilot freshman Andrew Newell in straight sets at No. 6. Newell was making his spring dual debut after sophomore Felix Fan missed his third straight match with a concussion.
Leading 3-2 and up a set in both remaining matches, the Waves seemed in control. But Pilot junior Alex Wallace shifted the momentum back in Portland's favor with an inspiring comeback win at No. 4 singles against Pedro Iamachkine. After dropping the first set 6-2, Wallace dominated the last two sets by a 6-1 and 6-2 margin to tie the match.
Donat evened his match with a second set win shortly after Wallace clinched, and then all of the attention turned to the final set. Donat jumped ahead 4-1, but Van Slyke fought off one match point and rallied to tie it up at 5-5. Donat then held serve and broke Van Slyke in consecutive games to incite the celebration.
"To lose the doubles point and then come back and grind through four different three set singles wins, including the final two after losing the first set, was amazing," Gross said. "Pepperdine has nearly always been the benchmark for excellence in tennis in this conference and it is well deserved. They have a classy group of guys and coaches. Obviously today could have gone either way and there is a good chance we will have another significant battle next week at the conference tournament. Right now I just want to soak it in and let the guys enjoy this really special moment."
Portland ran its home winning streak to 19 matches with the win on Friday and will look to close out the regular season with a win over LMU tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. at the Louisiana Pacific Tennis Center. Live scoring and video will be available at PortlandPilots.com.
The Pilots will then focus on the WCC Championships held on April 27-29 in Claremont, Calif. at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center. Portland has secured the No. 1 seed and will face the winner of the No. 4/5 match on Friday at 10 a.m. in a semifinals matchup. The WCC Tournament champion will earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships.
#50 Portland 4, Pepperdine 3
Portland, Ore. (Louisiana Pacific Tennis Center)
April 21, 2017
Singles
1. Michail Pervolarakis (POR) def. Guilherme Hadlich (PEP) 6-3, 4-6, 6-0
2. Mathieu Garcia (POR) def. Stefan Menichella (PEP) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2
3. Lautaro Pane (PEP) def. Pierre Garcia (POR) 6-3, 3-6, 6-0
4. WALLACE, Alex (POR) def. Pedro Iamachkine (PEP) 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
5. DONAT, Carlos (POR) def. Jack Van Slyke (PEP) 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
6. Dane Esses (PEP) def. Andrew Newell (POR) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles
1. Menichella/Van Slyke (PEP) vs. Pervolarakis/Donat (POR) 6-5, unfinished
2. Gabriel Sidney/Hadlich (PEP) def. Jamie Fisher/Wallace (POR) 6-3
3. Tom Hill/Pane (PEP) def. Garcia/Garcia (POR) 6-4
Match Notes:
Portland 16-2, 6-1 WCC; National ranking #50
Pepperdine 11-8, 6-1 WCC
Order of Finish: Doubles (2,3) Singles (2,3,1,6,4,5)
