Box Score Beaverton, Ore. – Lewis & Clark College men's tennis opened the 2023 season with a 7-0 loss to Division I Portland State University at the Babette Horenstein Tennis Center.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Freshmen
Landon Cronin and
Kai Wills had the two most competitive singles sets for the Pioneers Friday afternoon.
"Just because the Vikings had an entirely new starting lineup from last year, didn't make things any easier," head coach
Jimmy Chau said. "Coach Mam rebuilt his entire roster and they are even stronger than last year. We were outdone by a stronger and more match ready team, but I am still excited by the energy and the spirit of this year's squad. We have some guys who have the ability to to have a really strong season if we really lock in. Cronin and Wills had some very competitive sets out there. Love it or hate it, the no-ad scoring is going to test our guys' discipline and mettle all year long. We have a lot to learn, but I am hoping these guys are willing, because I know they are able."
Cronin lost the number three singles match to Jonas Hembo Mathiasen 6-1, 6-4. Wills almost took the first set from Andrin Zuellig in number six singles, falling 7-5, 6-0.
Senior
Kristian Peev won a total of four games at number one singles. He fell to Andrea Brignacca 6-2. 6-2.
Fellow senior
Alberto Dos Santos lost his number four singles match 6-3, 6-0 to Luka Jovanovich.
The lone Pioneer sophomore to play singles,
Matt Chio, fell at number two singles to Jan Semerak 6-2, 6-0.
The number five singles paired freshman versus freshman as the Pios
Wade McDermott lost to Gregory Gruenig 6-1, 6-0.
The Pioneers lost the doubles point to the Vikings, who swept all three doubles matches.
Peev and McDermott fell 6-1 to Semerak and Gruenig at number one doubles. The team of Cronin/Wills fell to Jovanovich/Brignacca 6-1 in the number two doubles. Chio and Dos Santos, played Mathiasen and Simon Kuszynski and dropped a 6-0 decision.
BY THE NUMBERS
- This is the fifth consecutive year the Pioneers and Vikings have played. While they have lost all five matches, the Pios have responded by going 2-2 in their next match of the season.
- Every Pioneer took at least one game from the Vikings in their match.
- Wills is the second Pioneer in a row to fall 7-5 in a set against Portland State.
WHO'S NEXT
Lewis & Clark College will host NAIA Lewis-Clark State College on Thursday at 5 p.m. in their L&C Tennis Dome home opener.
