Complete Match Notes (PDF)

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland State got a gift Sunday when Montana State lost to Southern Utah. That, coupled with the Vikings' own 7-0 win over North Dakota last Friday, vaulted the Vikings into a tie for fifth in the Big Sky standings, putting them in position to qualify for the Big Sky tournament at the end of the season.
 
That is, at least, for the time being.
 
The chase for the final few spots in the Big Sky tournament remains muddled, but will start to shake out for the Vikings and the rest of the conference this weekend. Weber State has already clinched a spot in the Big Sky tournament with an 8-3 conference record, and Idaho and Northern Arizona appear destined to join them with conference records of 6-0 and 7-2, respectively. That leaves Montana (4-2 in Big Sky play), Portland State (5-4), Sacramento State (5-4), Montana State (3-3) and Southern Utah (3-4) to battle each other out for the final three spots in the six-team tournament field.
 
The Vikings split their matches against Sacramento State (L, 5-2) and Southern Utah (W, 4-3) and will conclude their regular season with matches at Montana State and Montana this Friday and Sunday. Win both matches and the Vikings will clinch their first-ever berth to the Big Sky tournament on merit (the Vikings earned an auto-bid as the pre-determined tournament hosts in 2003). Win only one of the two matches, and the Vikings will likely need to wait for the conclusion of the conference season next Sunday, April 22. 
 
If the Vikings only win one match this weekend, a win over the Bobcats on Friday would likely benefit the Vikings more since they currently rank behind the Vikings in the conference standings. Additionally, the Bobcats play first-place Idaho Wednesday, meaning a loss to the Vandals and another loss to the Vikings Friday would give the Bobcats five conference losses this season. The Vikings could finish with no more than five conference losses if they beat Montana State Friday, and the Vikings would have the tiebreaker over the Bobcats due to their win.
 
The Vikings have never beaten the Bobcats on the road, but the Vikings have been a strong road team this season. The Vikings tied a program record with their fourth road win of the season against Sonoma State on March 29, and won their first-ever road match against Eastern Washington on March 11. The Vikings came back to beat the Eagles, 4-3, after losing the doubles point, snapping an eight-match losing streak to the Eagles in the process. The Vikings nearly pulled off their first-ever road win against Idaho two days earlier, but the Vandals came back to beat the Vikings, 4-3, after the Vikings won the doubles point.
 
The Vikings played a close match against the Bobcats at home last season, when the Bobcats beat the Vikings 4-3. The Bobcats' Dylan Harvala overcame a two-break deficit in the second set to win the decisive match at line six in three sets. The Vikings' two returnees from that match – Nathan Boniel and Tommy Edwards – each swept their singles and doubles matches, with the pair winning at lines one and two in singles and together at line one in doubles.
 
The Vikings' match against the Grizzlies, meanwhile, will either represent the Vikings' chance to clinch a spot in the tournament outright, or get the sixth Big Sky win they need depending on the results Friday. The Grizzlies made the finals of the Big Sky tournament last season, after upsetting top-seeded Northern Arizona in the semifinals.
 
The Vikings have played the same six opponents the Grizzlies have this season, and have largely the same record against them as the Grizzlies. The one exception is Sacramento State, which the Grizzlies beat 4-3 while the Vikings lost, 5-2. Other than that, the Vikings and Grizzlies have each beaten North Dakota, Idaho State and Southern Utah, and lost to Weber State and Northern Arizona.
 
The Grizzlies will have a busy schedule leading up to their match against the Vikings, as they'll play Idaho and Northern Colorado on Thursday and Friday, respectively, before facing the Vikings on Sunday. First serve between the Vikings and Grizzlies will be at 10 a.m. (MT) in Missoula, Mont.
 
The Vikings will first open the weekend against the Bobcats Friday, as they'll play each other at 11 a.m. (MT) in Bozeman, Mont.
 
MATCH INFO:
Friday, April 13 – at Montana State – Bozeman, Mont. (Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center) – 11 a.m. (MT)
Sunday, April 15 – at Montana – Missoula, Mont. (Peak Racquet Club) – 10 a.m. (MT)
 
FOLLOW THE VIKINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Fans can follow the Portland State men's tennis team all year on Twitter and Instagram at @psuviksMTN. Live updates from most home matches will be posted on that account.
 
SCOUTING MONTANA STATE:

• The Montana State Bobcats (4-10, 3-3 Big Sky) won their first three Big Sky matches of the season – beating Weber State (4-3), Idaho State (4-3) and North Dakota (7-0) – but have lost their last three to Sacramento State (7-0), Northern Arizona (7-0) and Southern Utah (5-2). The Bobcats also lost two non-conference matches against Big Sky schools in Eastern Washington (5-2) and Montana (4-3).
• The Bobcats went 7-15 overall and 6-5 in Big Sky play last season, and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Big Sky tournament.
• The Bobcats return seven of their nine players from last season, including Rok Sitar, who was an All-Big Sky second-team selection in singles. Sitar and fellow returnee Alexander Flink also earned All-Big Sky honorable mention in doubles.
• Sitar has a 4-2 record in Big Sky play at No. 2 singles, and has gone 6-6 with Flink at No. 1 doubles. Flink, meanwhile, has gone 2-12 overall and 1-5 in Big Sky play at No. 1 singles this season.
• Freshman Joaquin Espinoza and senior Adrian Torrico rank tied for the team lead with seven wins in singles this season, and are 6-5 at lines five and four, respectively. Torrico and Kasper Parlklo are also 6-5 at No. 2 doubles together.
• The Vikings lost 4-3 to the Bobcats at home last season. The Bobcats won the doubles point with wins at lines two and three in doubles, and then split the six singles matches with the Vikings. The Vikings' only returnees from that match – Nathan Boniel and Tommy Edwards – swept their matches against the Bobcats, winning at lines one and two in singles and together at line one in doubles.
• The Bobcats will play Idaho in a Big Sky match Wednesday before facing the Vikings on Friday.

 
ALL-TIME SERIES VERSUS MONTANA STATE:
The Bobcats have won 11 of their 12 previous meetings between them and the Vikings. The Vikings' lone win in the series came in 2010, when they beat the Bobcats 5-2 at home. The Vikings have come close to victories over the Bobcats in their last two home matches, but the Bobcats won both matches, 4-3, in 2015 and 2017.
 
SCOUTING MONTANA:

• The Vikings have played all six of the Big Sky opponents the Montana Grizzlies (7-5, 4-2 Big Sky) have faced so far this season. The one difference in the team's results this season came against Sacramento State, which the Grizzlies beat 4-3 while the Vikings lost 5-2 to the Hornets. Other than that, both teams beat North Dakota, Idaho State and Southern Utah, and lost to Weber State and Northern Arizona.
• The Grizzlies went 14-9 overall and 7-4 in Big Sky play last season, and advanced to the finals of the Big Sky tournament where they lost 4-0 to Idaho. The Grizzlies upset top-seeded Northern Arizona, 4-3, in the semifinals of the Big Sky tournament.
• The Grizzlies have an experienced team with six returnees from last year's Big Sky tournament team, including junior Alex Canellopoulos, who was an All-Big Sky second-team selection in singles, and a second-team selection with fellow returnee Yannick Schmidl in doubles.
• Schmidt and fellow senior Victor Casadevall have split time at the top of the singles lineup for the Grizzlies, and are both 4-2 in Big Sky play this season. Schmidl has played the last four matches at line one and leads the team with eight singles wins this season. Casadevall ranks tied for second on the team with Ludvig Hallgren and Ignacio Tejerina with seven singles wins each this season. Hallgren leads the team with five conference wins, and is undefeated against Big Sky opponents while playing at line six.
• Six of the Grizzlies' seven players have .500 records or better in Big Sky play this season.
• The Grizzlies have been a strong doubles team in Big Sky play, as they've won the doubles point in four of their six Big Sky matches. The Grizzlies are 9-5 as a team in doubles against Big Sky opponents despite playing with eight different doubles team during the dual season.
• The Grizzlies will play Idaho and Northern Colorado on Thursday and Friday, respectively, before facing the Vikings on Sunday.

 
ALL-TIME SERIES VERSUS MONTANA:
The Vikings broke through for their first-ever win over the Grizzlies in 2015, when the Vikings beat the Grizzlies 5-2 at home. The Grizzlies have won the other 11 matches between them and the Vikings, however, including all three in Missoula.
 
LAST TIME OUT:
The Vikings swept North Dakota 7-0 in their first home match of the regular season Friday, tying a program record with their fifth Big Sky win of the season in the process. The 7-0 sweep of the Fighting Hawks was the team's first against a Big Sky opponent since they beat Southern Utah 7-0 on March 11, 2016. The Vikings' Tommy Edwards and Avery West made their own history at No. 1 doubles, as they beat North Dakota's Lukas Buth and Daniel Martinez 7-5 for their 13th win of the season together. Edwards and West's 13th win together tied them for the single-season records for overall wins and wins at No. 1 doubles by a doubles team, as well as the career record for wins at No. 1 doubles. Both players also won in singles, with West earning his first win of the season at No. 2 singles in straight sets over Martinez, 6-2, 6-4. Edwards only dropped two games in his match at No. 3 singles, as he beat UND's Annei Laska, 6-2, 6-0. Sam Roberts and Otto Holtari only dropped one game each while winning their matches at lines four and five by 6-0, 6-1 scores over UND's Davide Callegari and Alex Mailes, respectively.
 
UPCOMING:
The Vikings will host an Alumni match next Saturday, April 21, at the West Hills Racquet and Fitness Club. The match will begin at 2 p.m. (PT).
 
CHASING HISTORY:
With Montana State's loss to Southern Utah Sunday, the Vikings moved back into position to qualify for the Big Sky tournament for the first time ever on merit (the Vikings earned an auto bid as the pre-determined tournament hosts in 2003). The Vikings currently rank tied for fifth in the Big Sky standings at 5-4 in conference play, which would put them in the six-team tournament field if the season ended today. The Vikings finish the regular season against Montana and Montana State – two teams around the Vikings in the conference standings – meaning the Vikings will still likely need to win at least one match to ensure qualification for the tournament. The Vikings have already tied a program record with five Big Sky wins this season, a record the program first set two years ago in 2016. The Vikings also set the program record for overall wins in 2016 with 12, and need only one more win this season to match that.
 
ROAD WARRIORS:
The Vikings tied a program record with their fourth road win of the season on March 29, when they beat Sonoma State, 5-4. The Vikings also won their first-ever match at Eastern Washington on March 11, when they came back to beat the Eagles, 4-3, after losing the doubles point. The Vikings had lost eight straight to the Eagles coming into the match, and had been 0-7 against the Eagles when playing away from home. The Vikings have also played close matches on the road against Idaho and Sacramento State – two more teams the Vikings were winless against on the road – but narrowly lost 4-3 to the Vandals and 5-2 to the Hornets.
 
COMEBACK KIDS:
The Vikings have come back to win a dual after dropping the doubles point in three different matches this season, including twice in Big Sky play. The Vikings' first comeback win came against Southern Utah, which won the doubles point and then ran out to a 3-1 lead on the Vikings in their match on Feb. 16. The Vikings came back to win the final three singles matches in three sets, however, with Gabe Souza clinching the match with a three-set comeback win at line six. The Vikings then lost the doubles point and fell behind 3-2 on the road against Seattle on March 2 before winning the final two matches to beat the Redhawks, 4-3. Tommy Edwards clinched the win for the Vikings that time with a three-set win at line three. The Vikings pulled the same feat against Eastern Washington on March 11, with Majeed Bukhari clinching the dual with a three-set win at line six.
 
WESTWARDS, MUCH MORE AMUSING THAN WESTWORLD:
Avery West and Tommy Edwards, or Westwards as they have been named when talking about their doubles pairing, tied three different single-season or career records with their 13th win together at No. 1 doubles in the Vikings' match against North Dakota last Friday. Westwards tied the single-season records for overall doubles wins and wins at No. 1 doubles by a doubles team, as well as the career record for wins at No. 1 doubles. Westwards would also set the record for win percentage at No. 1 doubles by a doubles team if the season ended today, while both players rank one win from tying Brent Wheeler for the most individual wins at No. 1 doubles in a single season. Westwards have beaten two nationally ranked doubles teams this season, both in Big Sky play. Westwards beat Idaho's Mark Kovacs and Carlos Longhi Neto 7-5 at No. 1 doubles on March 9, when Kovacs and Longhi Neto ranked 53rd nationally coming into the match. Westwards also beat Idaho State's Peter Trhac and David Felix 6-4 on Feb. 10, when Trhac and Felix ranked 50th in the nation. Westwards beat University of Portland's Mike Pervolarakis and Alex Wallace 7-5 on Feb. 3, as well, with Pervolarakis ranked 18th nationally in singles at the time.
 
BONIEL'S ASSAULT ON THE PSU RECORD BOOKS:
Senior Nathan Boniel has established himself as the best singles player in the history of the Portland State men's tennis program with the records for overall singles wins (43), overall singles win percentage (.754), Big Sky singles wins (22), wins at No. 1 singles (43) and win percentage at No. 1 singles (.754). Boniel has been adding to those records this season, and has moved up the all-time doubles ranks as well. Boniel ranks fourth all time in overall doubles wins (29), and ranks third all time in overall doubles win percentage (.569). Additionally, Boniel ranks tied for fifth with 14 Big Sky doubles wins, and ranks in the top 10 all time for wins at lines one (T-10th, 9 wins), two (6th, 10 wins) and three (6th, 10 wins).
 
TOMMY BOY WONDER:
Sophomore Tommy Edwards has already established himself as one of the best doubles players in program history, less than two full years into his Viking career. Edwards already ranks second all time in overall doubles win percentage (.611), and ranks third all time in wins at No. 1 doubles with 22 in his career. Edwards also ranks ninth all time with 11 Big Sky doubles wins in his career, and ranks fourth all time in win percentage at No. 1 doubles (.611).
 
RECORDS WERE MADE TO BE BROKEN:
Besides the doubles records Westwards have already tied, the Vikings have also tied or broken the following single-season records:

• Sam Roberts tied the single-season record for wins at No. 4 singles (6, originally set by Jeff Cero in 2009).
• Sam Roberts would break the single-season record for win percentage at No. 4 singles (.462) if the season ended today.
• Gabe Souza tied the single-season school record for wins at No. 6 singles (5, originally set by Alex Hart in 2008).
• Avery West would break the single-season record for win percentage at No. 3 singles (.727) if the season ended today.
• Tommy Edwards and Avery West would rank tied for the single-season record for win percentage at No. 1 doubles by an individual (.684) if the season ended today.

 
2017 SEASON RECAP:
Nathan Boniel had another stellar season – going 13-5 at line one and 8-3 in Big Sky matches – but the Vikings finished 4-14 overall and 2-9 in Big Sky play, and never challenged for a spot in the Big Sky tournament like they did in 2016. Tommy Edwards boosted the Vikings with his play as a freshman at line two, where he went 8-7 while playing against much older players. Edwards also went 6-5 in Big Sky play, and teamed up with Boniel to go 9-8 while playing at line one doubles together during the season.