Box Score SEATTLE, Wash. – The Portland men's tennis team improved to 3-0 on the season with a 4-1 comeback victory against North Florida Friday at Nordstrom Tennis Center. It is the third straight match that the Pilots have dropped the doubles point before coming back to win the match in singles.

The Osprey took the early lead by clinching the doubles point with 6-4 wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions. Portland's No. 2 tandem of Maxim Groysman and Cade Fernando won 6-3 in their match.

Singles action was again dominated by the Pilots despite Portland's No. 3 player, Stefan Skobelev, having to pull out due to injury.

Fernando posted a 6-1, 6-4 victory at No. 5 singles versus Lorenzo Messina and Tannor Binder was impressive in his dual season debut with a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 6 against Chase Healey.

Tom Garcia defeated Youssef Labbene 6-1, 7-6 at No. 3 and Lucas Kimelman was a 7-5, 6-4 winner against Gianluca FIloramo at No. 4. Groysman was leading 3-0 in the third set at No. 1 and Nikola Keremedchiev had just started a third set at No. 2 when the match was clinched.

"This is as proud as I have been of a team in a long time," Portland head coach Aaron Gross said. "For the third time in three matches we drop the doubles point. and on top of that our big guy Stefan went out with an injury and couldn't play singles. Tannor Binder stepped in on a moment's notice and came through big. He is a great example of why when you don't get in the lineup that you put your head down, come early and stay late and you're ready for when your number gets called. That's what happened today and he came through. Cade Fernando also came up big and our freshmen took care of business as well.

"North Florida has a solid team but this was much more about us overcoming the tennis demons that we all face sometimes. Where that self-doubt starts creeping in in those big moments and you have to fight it and keep your head right. We did an amazing job of that today."
 
The Pilots remain in Seattle and will play another neutral site match on Sunday at 3 p.m. vs. Utah.

Portland 4, North Florida 1
Seattle, Wash. (Nordstrom Tennis Center)
January 31, 2025

Singles
1. Maxim Groysman (POR) vs. Andreas Scott (UNF) 6-1, 6-7, 3-0 unfinished
2. #109 Nikola Keremedchiev (POR) vs. Bruno Vietri (UNF) 6-4, 4-6 unfinished
3. Tom Garcia (POR) def. Youssef Labbene (UNF) 6-1, 7-6
4. Lucas Kimelman (POR) def. Gianluca Filoramo (UNF) 7-5, 6-4
5. Cade Fernando (POR) def. Lorenzo Messina (UNF) 6-1, 6-4
6. Tannor Binder (POR) def. Chase Healey (UNF) 6-2, 6-4

Doubles
1. Vietri/Andreas (UNF) def. #98 Keremedchiev/Skobelev (POR) 6-4
2. Groysman/Fernando (POR) def. Messina/Filoramo (UNF) 6-3
3. Healey/Joao Portugal (UNF) def. Garcia/Kimelman (POR) 6-4

Match Notes:
North Florida 0-3
Portland 3-0

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