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Portland State University Athletics

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS
Tommy Edwards
Eric Naslund
4
Winner Sacramento State CSUS (4-4/3-1 BSC)
3
Portland State PSU (5-3/1-1 BSC)
Winner
Sacramento State CSUS
(4-4/3-1 BSC)
4
Final
3
Portland State PSU
(5-3/1-1 BSC)

Match Recap: Men's Tennis | | Jackson Wagner

Hornets Edge Vikings in 4-3 Thriller

The atmosphere inside the Vancouver Tennis Center felt like a tournament match on Saturday night. Fittingly, the two teams put forth championship level play to match it. In a five-plus hour dual that came down to the final set of the final match, Sacramento State outlasted Portland State for a narrow 4-3 victory.

The Vikings were coming off a win against Idaho Friday afternoon and with a win on Saturday night would have had a very good claim for the best weekend in Viking history. Ultimately, the hosts came up a couple moments short from back-to-back program defining wins.

"Great match, great battle," head coach Toby Krauel said following the match. "It was a really good fight and a fun college match. This one didn't come up on our side but everyone fought really hard."

The intensity showed from the first point in the doubles matches. There was a sense of urgency from the Vikings, who had started slow in their last couple matches, but it was matched by Sacramento State. After taking early leads on courts one and two, the Vikings couldn't hold on.

The doubles had been outstanding for Portland State all year and the top two teams each entered on big winning streaks. But Sacramento State rose to the challenge, winning 6-4 on both of the top courts to take the doubles point.

Portland State didn't let the loss in doubles negate its spirit, though. They came out firing in singles and got the biggest crowd of the year for a home match fired up. Tommy Edwards bounced back from a loss on Friday with a resounding victory against the Hornets.

He got revenge on Louis Chabut, who was part of the doubles team that defeated Edwards/West, rolling in straight sets 6-1, 6-4. His win leveled the match at 1-all, but the Vikings would soon jump out to the lead.

Nikola Dimitrijevic continued his run of great play at No. 4 singles with a 6-4, 6-2 win in which he showed more fire than in previous matches. His intensity helped spark some of the other players on court.

While Edwards and Dimitrijevic rolled on courts three and four, the Vikings fell behind a set on the top two lines. As the other matches wrapped up and the crowd got into it, Lucas Castelo Branco and Matteo Fortini gave them some more to cheer about.

Castelo Branco picked up a huge 6-1 win in the second set, while Fortini won 6-3. The final set didn't go Fortini's way. Mikus Losbergs picked up a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win that once again brought the match to a tie.

Just moment later, however, Castelo Branco finished off his comeback to win 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 at No. 2 and put the Vikings one point away from clinching.

Sam Roberts and Otto Holtari took the court later on, but matched the intensity and fight that their teammates brought forth. Roberts was defeated 6-2, 6-0 at No. 5, tying the match for the third and final time on the night.

Holtari, just like Castelo Branco and Fortini before him, dropped the first set but fought hard to force a third.

He and his opponent, Donald Hall, were the only two players left on the court with the entire teams supporting them. The crowd had dwindled down as the clock went past 11:00 p.m. local time, but the energy and fight never wavered from the two players.

Hall jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but Holtari kept fighting. He won three straight games, tying the match back up at 4-all. The two then traded games, but Hall had a clutch break down the stretch and escaped with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 win to clinch the victory for the Hornets.

Still, the Vikings put forth a very impressive weekend against two of the best teams in the Big Sky. The Vikings and the Hornets could see each other again later this year at the Big Sky Championships if both teams' seasons go to plan.

The Vikings should have an easier schedule over the next couple of weeks. They will need to start fast, as they play their first five Big Sky matches at home and end with five straight on the road. Montana State comes to town next weekend and Montana and Eastern Washington will visit two weeks from now.

MATCH NOTES: The Vikings trail the all-time series 1-18.



 
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