PROVO -- In an impressive team performance, the BYU men's tennis team defeated the University of Portland 6-1 Friday in Provo.
The Cougars were without number two singles player Gert Vilms, who sat out the match with a hand injury, but head coach Jim Osborne was impressed with the way the rest of the team responded.
"This was a good win for our team without Gert," Osborne said. "It was a good experience for us to have everyone move up. To win with our number two player out was a good team victory."
BYU senior Damien Ward led the Cougars to the victory, defeating Lars Anderson in number one singles 6-3, 6-3. He also teamed with junior Dave White to win the number two doubles match 8-6 over Anderson and Quang Nguyen.
"Damien is playing very well at home," Osborne said. "He is really on fire right now."
The Pilots won one doubles match and took one match in number six singles when Pierre-Marc Villenuve defeated Cougar freshman Jeff Olson 7-6, 6-1.
The Cougars, who moved to 5-1 with the win, will host Idaho State Saturday at 5 p.m.
Singles:1. Ward (BYU) def. Anderson, 6-3, 6-3
2. Losee (BYU) def. Agapitos, 7-6, 6-1
3. Lozano (BYU) def. J. Tosteurude, 6-2, 6-3
4. White (BYU) def. N. Tosteurude, 6-3, 6-3
5. Rudjuk (BYU) def. Nguyen, 6-2, 7-5
6. Villeneuve (UP) def. Olsen, 7-6, 6-1
Doubles:
1. Losee/Lozano (BYU) def. J. Tosteurude/N. Tosteurude, 8-6
2. Ward/White (BYU) def. Anderson/Nguyen, 8-6
3. Agapitos/Malacek (UP) def. Olsen/Rudjuk, 8-6
The BYU men's tennis team will continue its home schedule by hosting Portland and Idaho State this weekend.
The match with Portland is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. on Friday. BYU will face off with Idaho State at 5 p.m. Saturday. Both matches will be at the Indoor Tennis Courts in Provo.
The Cougars come into the matches with a 4-1 dual match record, with their only loss coming against USC.
Leading BYU is senior Damien Ward. Ward, from Canberra, Australia, is 16-6 in singles (2-2 in dual play) and is 21-7 in doubles play. He and teammate Gert Vilms are currently ranked No. 26 in the country.
