PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland raced to a 6-1 victory over the Weber State Wildcats on Sunday at the Louisiana Pacific Tennis Center. The Pilots improve to 6-6 on the season, while the Wildcats fall to 7-6 win the loss.

Portland controlled the doubles point with a 6-3 win at the No. 1 position from Sema Pankin and Eleftherios Neos. Nicolas Ocana and Nikolas Tvedt also recorded a 6-3 win at No. 2 doubles to clinch the point.

Portland then won five of the six singles matches in straight sets. The top three lineup positions cruised as Pankin knocked off Sebastian Buxman 6-3, 6-4. Neos handled Connor Kruger by a 6-1, 6-4 margin and then Ocana clinched the match with a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 3.

Maxim Groysman and Issa Yoshida capped the Pilot scoring with comfortable wins at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, respectively.

"We had a nice little bounce back today," Portland head coach Aaron Gross said. "We needed a win and I think we played better. On paper, based on UTR rating, I'd say we have beaten everybody we should, and have lost pretty much to everybody we should. We know that special seasons are built on turning a few of those losses into wins. We must right that ship and figure out a way to get a few of those done coming up. I feel like the seniors in our team have enough experience and heart that they can help us get through a few of those, but we need to get healthy and stay healthy and be consistent mentally every day in both practices and matches. That's the only way we can guarantee giving ourselves a shot to have some special things come our way."

The Pilots will take a break before returning the West Coast Conference play and hosting the BYU Cougars on Saturday, March 25 at 10 a.m. Live coverage of all Portland home matches is available at PortlandPilots.com.

Portland 6, Weber State 1
Portland, Ore. (Louisiana Pacific Tennis Center)
March 12, 2023

Singles
1. #86 Sema Pankin (POR) def. Sebastian Buxman (WEB) 6-3, 6-4
2. Eleftherios Neos (POR) def. Connor Kruger (WEB) 6-1, 6-4
3. Nicolas Ocana (POR) def. Elyes Marouani (WEB) 6-2, 6-4
4. William Zulch (WEB) def. Nikolas Tvedt (POR) 7-6 (5), 7-6 (10)
5. Maxim Groysman (POR) def. Jordan Coutinho (WEB) 6-0, 6-2
6. Issa Yoshida (POR) def. Matteo Savio (WEB) 6-2, 6-1

Doubles
1. Pankin/Neos (POR) def. Kruger/Zulch (WEB) 6-3
2. Tvedt/Ocana (POR) def. Marouani/Coutinho (WEB) 6-3
3. Fabian Gusic/Yoshida (POR) vs. Buxman/Savio (WEB) 5-5, unfinished

Match Notes:
Weber State 7-6
Portland 6-6
 

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