Cal Poly Edged By Portland 4-3 Saturday in Eugene

Saturday, March 6

Eugene, OR

1 P.M.

University of Portland

Photo by: Kyle Calzia / Cal Poly Athletics

Cal Poly Edged By Portland 4-3 Saturday in Eugene

3/6/2021 6:01:00 PM | Men's Tennis

EUGENE, Ore. — Despite winning the doubles point and redshirt freshman Joe Leather and redshirt sophomore Gary Vardanyan each picking up singles wins, the Cal Poly men's tennis team fell to the University of Portland 4-3 in Eugene Saturday.

In doubles, the Pilots (4-1) won at the No. 2 spot to open things up before the Mustangs' (4-6) No. 1 pairing of Leather and redshirt junior Roman Shekiryk won their match 6-3 to force it to come down to court three. At the No. 3 position, the Cal Poly duo of Vardanyan and redshirt junior Alex Stater clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 victory.

Vardanyan and Stater are now 2-1 together in doubles this season while Shenkiryk and Leather are 1-2.

In singles, Portland won at both the No. 2 and No. 1 spots to regain the lead 2-1. Vardanyan (pictured) then evened up the score after he won his match at the No. 5 position 7-5, 5-7, 6-2. He is now 5-4 so far this season.

Leather then followed with a three-set comeback victory at the No. 4 spot 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 to give Cal Poly a 3-2 lead. Leather is now 4-5 in singles competition this season.

The Pilots then picked up a win at the No. 3 spot in three sets 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 to tie the score at 3-3. A close 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4 win by Portland at the No. 6 spot sealed the 4-3 win by the Pilots.

Cal Poly will remain in Eugene Sunday to once again face No. 41 Oregon at 12 p.m.