PORTLAND, Ore. - With another Big Sky win under its belt, the Portland State men's tennis team will head to Big Sky country for showdowns with Montana State April 9 and Montana April 10. The Vikings are looking to vault themselves from seventh to at least sixth in the conference standings and attempt to qualify for the Big Sky Championship for the first time since 2003.

Portland State began last weekend, its first match in almost month, with a Big Sky match with Idaho State at Mountain Park Racquet Club. After edging the Bengals for the doubles point with wins at Nos. 1 and 2, the Vikings would edge ISU at all positions but No. 4. The position was significant last weekend, as sophomore transfer Nick Fracchia made his singles debut for the Vikings.

PSU No. 1 senior Chris Rice earned a victory over Daniel Barrenechea, who retired at the start of the second set, despite a 7-6 win over Rice. Barrenechea had been battling illness during the week and exhausted himself in doubles and in the first set against Rice

The win over ISU boosted the Vikings to 5-8 overall and gave the Vikings their second Big Sky win of the season. Prior to the match, the Vikings recognized seniors Jeff Cero, Matt Erickson, Vetu Mam, Rice and Alex VanDerschelden for their dedication to the men's tennis program. Cero and VanDerschelden were members of the inaugural tennis team in 2008.

The following day, Portland State would take on crosstown rival Portland at their home court, Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center. The Pilots entered the contest with double-digit wins and would improve that mark to 11-5 against PSU, with the 6-1 win.

Sophomore Mitch Somach would be the lone Viking to earn a win victory over UP with a straight-set win at No. 3, 7-6, 6-2. Somach finished 3-1 over the weekend in singles and doubles, combined, and improved his singles record this season to a team-best 7-7.

This weekend is crucial for the Vikings if they hope to qualify for the Big Sky Championships, April 22-24 in Bozeman, Mont. The Vikings finished one spot shy of a playoff berth, fifth, in 2010 with a 4-4 conference record. With three straight-conference wins, the Viks would finish 5-3 in the Big Sky and put themselves in position to earn a berth.

Montana State is currently 6-11 this season and 2-1 in conference play. The Bobcats were last in action April 2 with a match against No. 50 Boise State and lost 7-0 to the Broncos. Last year, PSU defeated MSU, 5-2, for the Viks first-ever win over the Cats.

MSU has conference wins over Eastern Washington (4-3) and Idaho State (6-1) and losses to Montana (5-2) and Sacramento State (7-0). Alberto Fuentes and Fletcher Keyes at No. 3 and No.2, respectively, share the team lead with eight wins each.

Montana on the other hand is 7-6 overall and 1-1 in conference play this season. The Griz recently lost to St. Mary's (Calif.), 6-1, April 5. In conference play, the Grizzlies lost to Eastern Washington, 5-2, March 6 in their first Big Sky match of the season.

Mikolaj Caruk, Carl Kuschke and Andrew Warrern are all tied for the team lead in wins with seven. Warren is 7-2 this season and a staple at the No. 5 position, going 5-1.

Portland State will return to action and close out the 2011 regular season against Eastern Washington April 15 and take on Lewis-Clark State April 16.