The bright play of newcomer Matteo Fortini highlighted what might otherwise be categorized as a learning weekend for the Portland State men's tennis team. The Vikings, who have been together for just two weeks because school starts later in the year at Portland State, showed signs of rust but also showed the potential that this team has on Sunday.
"The Boise Tournament is always tough for us because we only have two weeks of practice under our belts and it's our first competition," head coach Toby Krauel said. "All of the other schools have been practicing for six weeks and have played multiple tournaments. There is no substitute for match play, so many of our guys showed that rust but they didn't show lack of heart or talent."
Fortini won his first three matches to reach the semifinal of the Dar Walters Bracket before losing out to eventual champion Wyat DeMulling from Boise State. He finished the weekend 3-1 in singles and impressed his coach.
"Matteo had a great debut and is going to have a great career here," Krauel said.
The Portland State men struggled early on in the first tournament of the fall but were able to find some results on Sunday and in the back draws of brackets. Gabriel Souza dropped his opening match in the Blue Bracket but he was able to pick up a consolation victory as well as a win in a pick-up match on Sunday. Souza defeated Derek Simonson from Whitman 8-7 (7) in the consolation match and beat John Carter, also from Whitman, 6-0, 3-6, 1-0 (3) in a match on Sunday to finish 2-1 on the weekend.
Otto Holtari also added a win in a consolation singles match, defeating Bear Lee from Whitman 6-4, 6-3. Nikola Dimitrijevic and Tommy Edwards both ended the weekend on a positive note, winning in their pick-up matches on Sunday. Dimitrijevic defeated Nishaant Limaye from Seattle 6-2, 6-2 while Edwards outlasted a Whitman player 6-4, 1-6, 1-0 (6).
In doubles, the pairing of Lucas Castelo Branco and Sam Roberts picked up the lone victory for the Vikings in the Greg Patton Doubles Main Draw. The duo took down Mitch Johnson/Daniel Bushamuka from Utah State 7-5 in their opening match of the weekend. They were eliminated in the quarterfinals after a 6-3 loss to Francis Filipovich/Fynn Loshe from Idaho State.
The other three doubles teams from Portland State all lost in their main draw openers.
"This team is talented and they all fight hard," Krauel said. "The squad improved every day and three more players got wins. I am confident each tournament we will get stronger."
The Vikings head off to the ITA Northwest Regional Championships next weekend in Seattle as the fall season continues.
