Montana
Portland State
Men's tennis team sweeps Portland State
2/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 28, 2014
The Montana Grizzlies men's tennis team defeated Portland State in its first Big Sky Conference match of 2014 at the Peak Racquet Club on Friday afternoon.
"I thought it was closer than the scores showed," Head coach Kris Nord said. "Tough sets in a lot of those first four singles, but I really loved how the guys finished them out."
Last year against the Vikings, Montana was swept in all three doubles flights -- something they clearly remembered heading into Friday's match.
At No. 1 doubles, Andrew Warren and Semion Branzburg held a 3-1 advantage early on, but Portland State's Brent Wheeler and Ian Risenhoover continually won long rallies and jumped out in front, winning 8-5. Minutes later, No. 2 doubles finished up, giving Tomasz Soltyka and Mikolaj Caruk their second straight doubles win.
The doubles point came down to the No. 3 flight, and Eric Braun and Peter Mimnagh-Fleming delivered, winning for the second time in as many tries as partners. After a one hour and ten minute match, with a lead that flip-flopped very often, the Griz eventually won 8-7 (7-5).
"We need to win the doubles point more often to win the matches we really want to win -- like tomorrow (against Sacramento State)," Nord added.
In singles play, the Griz won every single match in straight sets. Soltyka won his fourth straight match at No. 3, owning PSU's Wil Cochrane 6-1, 6-3. As for the rest of the singles slots -- the Grizzlies played ferocious from top to bottom.
Caruk knocked off Wheeler in a feisty match at No. 1 singles. After a few point disputes and an unsportsmanlike conduct violation, PSU's Wheeler became very animated throughout the match.
After taking the first five team points, Zach Drost went to work at No. 6, fighting off Nate Chart 6-2, 6-1. And then Mimnagh-Fleming became the final Grizzly to claim a victory on Saturday. The freshman won in straight sets 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).
"I just really liked how he hung in there," Nord said. "It was a tough match for him to play Risenhoover. There wasn't much rhythm in the match, but he did a nice job of hanging in there and getting a straight-set win. That's a big win for a freshman."
The win moves the Griz to 1-0 in conference play and 2-3 overall in 2014. UM's netters will take on rival Sacramento State on Saturday at 11 a.m.
"I think today was a confidence builder," Nord said. "I like the way our guys are handling the pressure, and tomorrow will be another test of that."
Montana 7, Portland State 0
Friday, Feb. 28 2014 at Missoula, Mont. (Peak Racquet Club)
Singles Results
1. Mikolaj Caruk (UM) def. Brent Wheeler (PSU) 6-3, 6-2
2. Andrew Warren (UM) def. Kacper Stelmaszak (PSU) 6-4, 6-1
3. Tomasz Soltyka (UM) def. Wil Cochrane (PSU) 6-1, 6-3
4. Semion Branzburg (UM) def. Alec Marx (PSU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Peter Mimnagh-Fleming (UM) def. Ian Risenhoover (PSU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
6. Zach Drost (UM) def. Nate Chart (PSU) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles Results
1. Brent Wheeler/Ian Risenhoover (PSU) def. Andrew Warren/Semion Branzburg (UM) 8-5
2. Mikolaj Caruk/Tomasz Soltyka (UM) def. Alec Marx/Kacper Stelmaszak (PSU) 8-5
3. Eric Braun/Peter Mimnagh-Fleming (UM) def. Wil Cochrane/Nate Chart (PSU) 8-7 (7-5)
Match Notes:
Portland State: 1-8, 0-2 BSC
Montana: 2-3, 1-0 BSC
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,3,4,2,6,5)
Players Mentioned
