The Oregon men’s tennis team kicked off its spring season in a convincing manner, defeating Montana State 5-0 in the front end of a Sunday doubleheader.
“It’s definitely the most exciting part of the season,” Oregon sophomore Thomas Laurent said following the match.
In their first competitive action since the Duck Invitational in November, the Ducks looked strong, taking care of Montana State handily. Oregon claimed the doubles point to start the match. The top pair of Jayson Amos and Armando Soemarno defeated Montana State’s Rok Sitar and Alexander Flink 6-2, and the No.3 pair of Laurent and Cormac Clissold clinched the doubles point with a 6-2 decision over Montana State’s Kellen Bates and Adrian Torrico.
Simon Stevens and Akihiro Tanaka were losing in their match, but were unable to attempt a comeback after the Ducks clinched the doubles point.
Amos and Soemarno – the No. 9 ranked doubles pair in the preseason ITA rankings – were in control of their match from the start. Having not played together at all during the fall season, the duo picked up right where they left off following an impressive 2016 season.
Laurent and Clissold continue to do what they do best – win. The pair is now 21-2 since joining forces last season when Laurent arrived to Oregon.
“We know each other pretty well,” said Laurent. “It’s good to play with him.”
The Ducks kept their foot on the gas pedal in singles, not losing a set before clinching the win. Freshmen Akihiro Tanaka defeated Flink 6-1,6-1 to give Oregon its second point. Ethan Young-Smith, originally not in the lineup, replaced Clissold and took care of his match, topping Petrak 6-0, 6-1 to give the Ducks a 3-0 lead.
Laurent won 6-4, 6-1 over Bates, clinching the match for Oregon. Shortly after, Amos finished his match to give the Ducks their 5th point, defeating Torrico 6-3, 6-0 to give the senior his first dual win of his final season. Stevens and Ty Gentry were both in the lead in their respective matches, but didn’t finish after their teammates clinched the win.
The Ducks (1-0) have a short break before battling against Utah State (2-2) at 3 p.m.
“I think we’re all ready,” said Laurent. “We did a pretty good job working from the end of the fall to now.”
Oregon vs Montana State Results
Doubles –
- (UO) Armando Saemarno/Jayson Amos def. (MSU) Rok Sitar/Alexander Flink, 6-2
- (UO) Simon Stevens/Akihiro Tanaka vs (MSU) Kellen Bates/Adrian Torrico, unfinished
- (UO) Thomas Laurent/Cormac Clissold def. (MSU) Kasper Parlklo/Max Petrak, 6-2
Oregon wins doubles point
Singles –
- (UO) Laurent def. (MSU) Bates, 6-4, 6-1
- (UO) Stevens vs (MSU) Sitar, unfinished
- (UO) Amos def. Torrico, 6-3, 6-0
- (UO) Tanaka def. Flink, 6-1, 6-1
- (UO) Gentry vs Parlklo, unfinished
- (UO) Young-Smith def. Petrak, 6-1, 6-1
Oregon wins match 5-0
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