“It was a tough match today,” said head coach Adam Reeb. “I give credit to Portland State who played well and deserved to win. We came out slow in doubles but responded better in singles. We need to have that intensity and emotion for a full match. Tanner [Berkabile] played a solid match, which was great to see, and Connor [Leahy] continues to be a rock in singles for us.”
The Vikings grabbed the doubles point with wins in the No. 1 and No. 2 spots to take a 1-0 lead heading into singles play. Portland State increased their lead, 2-0, as Nathan Boniel took the lead in the No. 1 spot before Tanner Berkabile (Las Vegas, Nev.) put the Redhawks on the board with a straight sets victory at No. 5 singles.
PSU’s Ethan Lopez and Wil Cochrane followed with singles victories to clinch the match for the Vikings, 4-1, before Portland-native Connor Leahy earned the Redhawks’ second straight sets victory in the No. 6 spot, to decrease their deficit, 4-2. Brent Wheeler finished with a singles win at No. 2, giving the Vikings their final margin of victory, 5-2.
The Redhawks return to the Rose City on Friday, Feb. 5 before hosting their first home match of 2016 vs. Idaho on Sunday, Feb. 7 at Sand Point Tennis Center. The match vs. the Vandals starts a three-match homestand for Seattle U, who will also host Portland State (Feb. 12) and George Fox (Feb. 13) before hitting the road again.
Results: Portland State 5, Seattle U 2
Doubles
No. 1 – Brent Wheeler/Ethan Lopez (PSU) def. John Stormans/Tanner Berkabile (SU), 6-2
No. 2 – Wil Cochrane/Nathan Boniel (PSU) def. Matt Alderson/Connor Leahy (SU), 6-1
No. 3 – Ian Clare/Michael Schoettler (SU) def. Ian Risenhoover/Nacor Ibanez (PSU), 7-5
Singles
No. 1 – Nathan Boniel (PSU) def. Ian Clare (SU), 6-0, 6-0
No. 2 – Brent Wheeler (PSU) def. John Stormans (SU), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
No. 3 – Ethan Lopez (PSU) def. Matt Alderson (SU), 6-3, 6-0
No. 4 – Wil Cochrane (PSU) def. Michael Schoettler (SU), 7-6, 6-2
No. 5 – Tanner Berkabile (SU) def. Ian Risenhoover (PSU), 6-1, 6-2
No. 6 – Connor Leahy (SU) def. Nacor Ibanez (PSU), 6-3, 6-1
Order of Finish: 1,5,3,4,6,2