PORTLAND – Portland State's struggles against cross-town rival Portland continued for the men's tennis team as the Vikings lost Friday's dual 6-1 against the Pilots at the Louisiana Pacific Tennis Center.
The Vikings (0-2, 0-0 Big Sky) move to 0-12 all-time against the Pilots who begin their spring season at 1-0.
Matteo Fortini and
Majeed Bukhari gave the best effort in the three doubles matches, battling to a 6-3 loss at the No. 2 spot.
Sam Roberts and
Tommy Edwards came up against Portland's top duo, falling 6-2 while
Nikola Dimitrijevic and
Otto Holtari dropped their match 6-1.
Dimitrijevic stepped it up in singles play, getting the Vikings on the board with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Sema Pankin in straight sets at No. 3. Leading 5-4 in the second set, Dimitrijevic closed out the set winning four straight points to seal the victory.
Edwards played a tough match against Tom Hann at No. 2, dropping the first set 6-2 before bouncing back to tie the match with a 6-3 win in the second. Tied 2-2 in the final set, Hann edged past Edwards to win 6-4 and take the match.
Playing at the No. 4 spot, Roberts lost a close match, falling 6-3, 6-4 against UP's Eleftherios Neos while Holtari lost 6-2, 6-1.
After falling in the opening set 6-2, Bukhari battled back to force the tiebreaker in the second set, coming up just short at 7-6 (7).
The Vikings take another short break next week before returning for their first home match on Sunday, Feb. 2 as Portland State hosts Santa Clara at the Vancouver Tennis Center.
RESULTS:
DOUBLES:
Kostya Nesterenko/Tom Hann (UP) def.
Tommy Edwards/
Sam Roberts (PSU), 6-2
Eleftherios Neos/Sema Pankin (UP) def.
Matteo Fortini/
Majeed Bukhari (PSU), 6-3
Issa Yoshida/Leo Hibi (UP) def.
Otto Holtari/
Nikola Dimitrijevic (PSU), 6-1
SINGLES:
Kostya Nesterenko (UP) def.
Matteo Fortini (PSU), 6-1, 6-3
Tom Hann (UP) def.
Tommy Edwards (PSU), 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
Nikola Dimitrijevic (PSU) def. Sema Pankin (UP), 6-4, 6-4
Eleftherios Neos (UP) def.
Sam Roberts (PSU), 6-3, 6-4
Issa Yoshida (UP) def.
Otto Holtari (PSU), 6-2, 6-1
Nicklas Oberg (UP) def.
Majeed Bukhari (PSU), 6-2, 7-6 (7)
