SEATTLE, Wash. – The Portland men's tennis team opened the 2023 dual season with a 4-3 neutral site loss to the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Friday at Nordstrom Tennis Center.

The Pilots (0-1) dropped the doubles point with losses at the top two positions, but Issa Yoshida and freshman Cade Fernando teamed up for a 6-4 win at No. 3 doubles.

Oscar Brown cruised at the No. 4 position with a 6-2, 6-2 win versus Calin Postea and then No. 47 Sema Pankin gave the Pilots a 2-1 lead with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Alejandro Sanchez Gonzalez.

The Ragin' Cajuns (1-1), who opened the season with a road loss to No. 41 Texas Tech, went ahead 3-2 with wins at No. 6 and No. 5, respectively.

Portland's No. 2 Eleftherios Neos came up clutch and outlasted Vasil Dimitrov 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 to even the score.

The match was decided at the No. 3 position where Alejo Ferrer Chueca held off Nicolas Ocana in three sets.

"I don't think anyone played as well as they would have liked," Portland head coach Aaron Gross said. "I truly think this match was lost in December. I'm not sure if guys got enough work done over break. It's a shame to lose this one and feel like we are going to have to work our way into the season. Between poor doubles play and not closing sets at some key times in singles, it was just too much to overcome."

The Pilots will return home to host the Utah State Aggies on Sunday with a 10 a.m. start. Live scoring and video of the match will be available at PortlandPilots.com.
 
Louisiana 4, Pilots 3
Seattle, Wash. (Nordstrom Tennis Center)
Jan. 20, 2023

Singles
1. #47 Sema Pankin (POR) def. A. Sanchez Gonzalez (ULL) 6-4, 6-4
2. Eleftherios Neos (POR) def. Vasil Dimitrov (ULL) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2
3. Alejo Ferrer Chueca (ULL) def. Nicolas Ocana (POR) 2-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3
4. Oscar Brown (POR) def. Calin Postea (ULL) 6-2, 6-2
5. Karlo Kajin (ULL) def. Nikolas Tvedt (POR) 7-6, 6-4
6. Kacper Dworak (ULL) def. Fabian Gusic (POR) 7-5, 7-5

Doubles
1. #30 A. Sanchez Gonzalez/Karlo Kajin (ULL) def. Sema Pankin/Eleftherios Neos (POR) 6-4
2. Vasil Dimitrov/Kacper Dworak (ULL) def. Nikolas Tvedt/Nicolas Ocana (POR) 7-6 (4)
3. Issa Yoshida/Cade Fernando (POR) def. Alejo Ferrer Chueca/Calin Postea (ULL) 6-4

Match Notes:
Louisiana 1-1
Portland 0-1
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,1,6,5,2,3)
 

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