Air Force takes narrow win over Griz in Pocatello

Saturday, April 3

Pocatello, Idaho

2 PM

Montana

Air Force

4/3/2021 6:19:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana men's tennis team opened its two-match weekend trip to Pocatello with a 5-2 nonconference loss to the U.S. Air Force Academy on Saturday on the outdoor courts at Capell Park.

The Grizzlies lost the doubles round on a knife-edge to start the match, with all three courts decided with a tiebreaker in 7-6 decisions.

The Griz then clawed their way back in the match with a pair of singles wins, but it wasn't enough as the Zoomies took won the other four matches in straight sets.

Montana falls to 6-9 on the season (0-1 BSC), while Air Force improves to 6-7 after defeating Idaho State 5-2 on Friday as well.

In doubles, Pontus Hallgren and Moritz Stoeger claimed the only win for the Grizzlies, winning the tiebreaker to claim the set 7-6 (1) on court three. UM's No. 1 pair of Ed Pudney and Milo Benn took a narrow loss 7-6 (5), and Air Force clinched the win on court two with a win over Oisin Shaffrey and Chase Bartlett, 7-6 (4).

Shaffrey then bounced back to win in doubles, defeating Air Force's Justin Waldman in straight sets 6-2, 6-4. The junior from Ireland is now 2-0 in his duals career over opponents from Air Force and has won four of his last five matches.

Stoeger picked up Montana's other win of the day, rebounding from a first set loss to defeat the Falcon's Nick Vroman on court five 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to make the final score 5-2 in favor of Air Force. The true freshman has now won four of his last five, including an upset over Hunter Egger from Gonzaga.

"Hats off to Air Force and their stellar coaches. They took the momentum from the ultra tight doubles point into singles. All the doubles matches featured zero breaks of serves which is something I've never seen before," said head coach Jason Brown.

"Oisin (Shaffrey) and Moritz (Stoeger) both played some outstanding singles. Now we need to get ready to take on hometown ISU and get things rolling properly for our series of home conference matches."

The Grizzlies will now turn their attention to a nonconference match against old rival Idaho State at 11 a.m. on Sunday.

Montana vs Air Force (4/3/2021)
Air Force 5, Montana 2
4/3/2021 at Chubbuck, ID (Capell Park tennis courts)

Singles competition
1. Paul Hendrix (AF) def. PUDNEY, Ed (UM) 6-2, 6-4
2. SHAFFREY, Oisin (UM) def. Justin Waldman (AF) 6-2, 6-4
3. Robert Baylon (AF) def. BARTLETT, Chase (UM) 7-5, 6-3
4. Jonathan Mascagni (AF) def. BENN, Milo (UM) 6-4, 7-5
5. STOEGER, Moritz (UM) def. Nick Vroman (AF) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
6. Jordan Azuma (AF) def. HALLGREN, Pontus (UM) 7-5, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Paul Hendrix/Jamie Bautista (AF) def. PUDNEY, Ed/BENN, Milo (UM) 7-6 (7-5)
2. Jordan Azuma/Robert Baylon (AF) def. SHAFFREY, Oisin/BARTLETT, Chase (UM) 7-6 (7-4)
3. HALLGREN, Pontus/STOEGER, Moritz (UM) def. Sean McKendree/Justin Waldman (AF) 7-6 (7-1)

Match Notes
Montana 6-9
Air Force 6-7
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,2,6,4,3,5)
Neutral site match at Idaho State