PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland won the first four completed singles matches to pick up a 4-1 victory against Santa Clara in West Coast Conference men's tennis action on Thursday at the Louisiana Pacific Tennis Center. The Pilots improve to 7-7 overall and 2-2 in league play, while the Broncos drop to 9-7 and 1-2 in WCC matches.

After dropping the doubles point to the visitors, Portland's strong singles play at the top of the lineup carried the team.

"We really needed a win today," Portland head coach Aaron Gross said. "Getting the win the way it happened – coming back after losing the doubles point – was really important. I think we are still working our way through the feeling of having a bit of a bullseye on our back after our success of last season. The biggest key to our success last year was our toughness and decisiveness in big moments. We have struggled with that at times throughout a very difficult schedule up until now. It was very important for us to prove that we could respond with our backs against the wall again as we did today after losing the doubles point. We just have to get back to the mentality that nothing was given to us last year. We earned every ounce of our success and if we are going to have that form – or even better this year – than we have to feel that every single day. Today was a great start."

Senior Mathieu Garcia defeated Jesus Tapiador Barajas 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 2 position to even the score at 1-1. Senior Pierre Garcia then gave Portland the lead with a 6-4, 6-4 victory at the No. 3 spot against Robert Seby.

Junior Carlos Donat made quick work of Connor Garnett in straight sets at No. 4 singles to put the Pilots ahead by a 3-1 margin.

No. 52-ranked Michail Pervolarakis then overcame a first set loss to clinch the win for the Pilots. Pervolarakis outlasted Andrew Gu at the No. 1 position for a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 win to seal the team victory for Portland. Pervolarakis improved to 8-1 in dual singles matches this spring and 20-5 overall this season.

In doubles play, Pervolarakis and freshman Tom Hann posted a 6-2 win at the No. 2 spot, but the Broncos won at the other two positions to claim the team point.

The Pilots return next host the San Francisco Dons in WCC action at 11 a.m. at the Louisiana Pacific Tennis Center. The match will have live scoring and video coverage available at PortlandPilots.com.

Portland 4, Santa Clara 1
Portland, Ore. (Louisiana Pacific Tennis Center)
March 29, 2018

Singles
1. #52 Michail Pervolarakis (POR) def. Andrew Gu (SCU) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
2. Mathieu Garcia (POR) def. Jesus Barajas (SCU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Pierre Garcia (POR) def. Robert Seby (SCU) 6-4, 6-4
4. Carlos Donat (POR) def. Connor Garnett (SCU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Alex Wallace (POR) vs. Vasileios Iliopoulos (SCU) 2-6, unfinished
6. Tom Hann (POR) vs. Kamran Khan (SCU) 6-3, unfinished

Doubles
1. Gu/Seby (SCU) def. Garcia/Garcia (POR) 7-5
2. Pervolarakis/Hann (POR) def. Barajas/Iliopoulos (SCU) 6-2
3. Garnett/Khan (SCU) def. Donat/Jamie Fisher (POR) 6-2

Match Notes:
Santa Clara 9-7, 1-2 WCC
Portland 7-7, 2-2 WCC
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (2,3,4,1)