Vikings Capture First Big Sky Victory of Season in Thrilling Fashion

BEAVERTON, Ore. – In a dual that arrived down to a 3rd-established tiebreak on the final court docket, the Portland Point out men’s tennis team notched its initial Big Sky victory of the 2023 period, defeating Idaho Point out 4-3 on Saturday at the Tualatin Hills Tennis Center. The Vikings enhanced to 5-4 total and 1-1 in convention action, whilst the Bengals fell to 3-4 overall and -1 in Large Sky perform. 

“I am so happy of the men this weekend,” Viking head coach Vetu Mam mentioned soon after the acquire. “Two rough matches to open up Significant Sky level of competition and walking away with one particular, in the vogue we did it in, was remarkable.” 

The Vikings used Friday’s 5-2 reduction to Sacramento State as motivation towards the Bengals. Energized from start off to end, PSU set the tone early with outstanding doubles enjoy on Saturday. 

“We talked about the value of acquiring that doubles place and we place in the operate all week main into the Sacramento Condition match,” Mam claimed. “We fell quick towards them, but it was obvious what variations were being essential to be manufactured and we executed in tow in opposition to the Bengals currently.”

The Vikings took an early lead on all three courts and never appeared back again. Luka Jovanovic and Andrea Brignacca made brief get the job done of Hiroki Fujita and JW Altman, profitable their fifth match of the time, 6-2, at the No. 3 place. Jan Semerak and Gregory Gruenig adopted with a 6-2 earn of their very own around Andrea Kramer and Valentino De Pellegrin at courtroom one to secure the opening position for PSU. 

Semerak continued his momentum into singles perform, blowing earlier De Pellegrin in straight sets at the No. 2 location (6-2, 6-2). The Bengals manufactured up ground soon right after, declaring back again-to-again wins at flights 3 and five. 

A fired-up Brignacca set the Vikings again on top, completing a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Patrick Kristensen at the No. 1 flight. Following a Bengals victory at No. 6, awareness turned to Jonas Hembo Mathiasen and Wilkus Robbertse on court four. The again-and-forth three-set thriller came down to the wire as Mathiasen delivered under tension, pulling off a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3) comeback victory to clinch the dual for Portland State. 

“The participant of the match was certainly Jonas,” Mam claimed of the junior transfer. “He took us on a roller coaster but finally sealed the victory for us. Total, it was a fantastic display of coronary heart and perseverance from our men.”

The Vikings will glimpse to have that momentum into subsequent weekend as they go on their Big Sky slate versus Northern Arizona on Friday, Feb. 24 at the Tualatin Hills Tennis Middle (10 a.m.).