Nevada knocks off Griz 5-2

Friday, March 7

Reno, Nev.

3:00 PM

Montana

Nevada

Ethan Vaughn lost in three sets at No. 5 singles.

3/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis

March 7, 2014

The Montana Grizzlies men's tennis team lost the first game of its three match roadtrip on Friday afternoon -- falling to the Nevada Wolfpack 5-2 at the Caughlin Club.

Nevada won the doubles point and four singles flights, but Montana won at No. 4 and No. 6 singles against the 7-2 Wolfpack.

"Our guys struggled a little bit in their first match going outside of the year," Head coach Kris Nord said. "Serving-wise we struggled across the board. Our guys came really close to winning the doubles point, but these guys are good."

Nord's doubles lineup shuffled players around a bit compared to the last few weeks. At No. 1 doubles, Victor Ouvrard and Robert Allen knocked off Semion Branzburg and Ethan Vaughn, who has battled a shoulder injury the past month. After a Griz victory at No. 3 doubles, Mikolaj Caruk and Andrew Warren narrowly lost an 8-6 tiebreaker, which clinched the doubles point for Nevada.

"I felt like we matched up relatively well," Nord said. "Andrew Warren's match at No.1 -- it was a lot closer than a 6-2, 6-2 match. I felt like our guys gave themselves a chance to win, and that's what we're asking them to do."

In singles play, freshman Peter Mimnagh-Fleming defeated Billy Bumgardner in three sets.

"It was a good match for him to gut out, he just hung in there and worked hard," Nord said. "We always say when you work hard good things happen, and Peter's match was a good example of that. He just kept on fighting."

Vaughn lost in three sets at No. 5 after winning the first set 6-3.

"I think it showed a little bit that he's been out," Nord said. "His shoulder was a little heavy, his legs were tired. You can't simulate match play, and we just need to get him back in the lineup and playing. We're doing what we need to do to get him back into shape."

Montana plays Grand Canyon tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m.

Nevada 5, Montana 2
Friday, March 7 2014 at Reno, Nevada (Caughlin Club)

Doubles results
No. 1 Victor Ouvrard/Robert Allen (NEV) def. Ethan Vaughn/Semion Branzburg (UM) 8-4
No. 2 Quentin Mege/Moez Chargui (NEV) def. Mikolaj Caruk/Andrew Warren (UM) 8-7 (8-6)
No. 3. Eric Braun/Tomasz Soltyka (UM) def. Billy Bumgardner/Ryan Andrada (NEV) 8-6

Singles results,
No. 1 Moez Chargui (NEV) def. Andrew Warren (UM) 6-2, 6-2
No. 2 Victor Ouvrard (NEV) def. Mikolaj Caruk (UM) 6-1, 6-4
No. 3 Quentin Mege (NEV) def. Tomasz Soltyka (UM) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
No. 4 Semion Branzburg (UM) def. Andrew Poustie (NEV) 7-5, 6-4
No. 5 Ryan Andrada (NEV) def. Ethan Vaughn (UM) 3-6, 6-2, 6-0
No. 6 Peter Mimnagh-Fleming (UM) def. Billy Bumgardner (NEV) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4