Box Score PORTLAND, Ore. – Thanks to strong all-around performances and an impressive comeback win from Nicklas Oberg, the Portland Pilots secured a victory over the San Diego Toreros 5-2. The win was only Portland's second against the Toreros in program history.

"USD has dominated conference for the last few years, so it's not easy to convince a team that you can win," Portland head coach Aaron Gross. "But I think we all believe in our preparation and our ability to not get rattled when things get tough."

All three doubles matches were neck-and-neck with the Pilots ultimately pulling through to get the point. After winning the No. 2 match and dropping the No. 3 match it was up to Eleftherios Neos and Issa Yoshida in the No. 1 slot. The match was back-and-forth and had to go to a tiebreaker, which Neos and Yoshida won 7-4, clinching the doubles point for the Pilots.

"We did a great job in doubles today to get us a little momentum," Gross said. "The No. 1 player (August Holmgren) is one of the best players in the country, so we knew that was going to be a tough chore."

Singles got off to just as good a start, with the Pilots earning wins in the No. 2 and No. 3 slots. Neos took down Nico Borter in the No. 2 match for his fourth win of the season and Yoshida fended off David Norfeldt to take the No. 3 match in three sets.

The clinching point came in No. 4 singles match. After dropping the first set to Marvin Schaber 6-3, Oberg bounced back with wins in the next two sets. Nikolas Tvedt would go on to win his match with an impressive comeback of is own in the No. 5 slot while Leo Hibi dropped the No. 6 singles matchup to settle the score at its final.

"Everyone else on our team battled super hard and gave themselves a chance at end," Gross said. "Nick Oberg probably had his best match as a Pilot today. He ended up clinching for us coming from a set down and really played committed tennis."

Next up, the Pilots will head to Spokane, Wash. for their second WCC match against the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Saturday, Mar. 27. That match is set to start at 2 p.m.

"Our conference is really solid top to bottom," Gross said. "I think as long as we go into them with the idea that nothing is going to be given to us, then we have a shot most days."

Singles

1. No. 39 August Holmgren (USD) def. Sema Pankin (UP) 6-2, 7-5
2. Eleftherios Neos (UP) def. Nico Borter (USD) 6-4, 6-4
3. Issa Yoshida (UP) def. David Norfeldt (USD) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
4. Nicklas Oberg (UP) def. Marvin Schaber (USD) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
5. Nikolas Tvedt (UP) def. Garrett Kurtz (USD) 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (5)
6. Blake Kasday (USD) def. Leo Hibi (UP) 7-6 (1), 4-6, 10-5

Doubles

1. Yoshida/Neos (UP) def. Holmgren/Norfeldt (USD) 7-6 (4)
2. Pankin/Tvedt (UP) def. Borter/Schaber (USD) 6-4
3. Kurtz/Kasday (USD) def. Oberg/Hibi (UP) 6-4

Order of Finish: (Singles: 2,1,3,4,5,6; Doubles: 2,3,1)