Tiebreakers cost Lopes on road

Saturday, January 23

Boise, Idaho

11 a.m.

Grand Canyon

Montana

1/23/2021 4:29:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

Lopes drop 3 tiebreakers to swing dual loss to Montana

By: Jerob Moon

BOISE, Idaho – The Grand Canyon men's tennis team dropped a competitive match against Montana on Saturday in Boise, Idaho.

Despite the 6-1 scoreline, the Lopes (0-6) and Grizzlies (1-1) competed in close matches with a doubles match and two singles matches going the distance to a tiebreaker.

In doubles, Montana squeaked out an early 1-0 lead with close wins at Nos. 2 and 3. At the top doubles position, GCU senior Valentin Lang and freshman Jiri Novak picked up their first win of the season by taking their match 6-3.

Montana responded with a close 6-4 win over senior Freddie Grant and freshman Jonathan Da Silva. The doubles point came down to Court 3 and freshmen duo Wolmar Boris-Moller and Loic Van Zeggelaar. With the match tied 6-6, it went into a tiebreaker that Montana's Pontus Hallgren and Moritz Stoeger won 7-4.

Down 1-0, the Lopes needed to regroup in singles. After a straight set loss by Van Zeggelaar at No. 6, Novak earned his second win of the match this time with a 6-4, 6-3 straight set win over the Grizzlies' new transfer, Chase Barlett, who was a Division II All-American last season.

Leading 2-1, the Grizzles pushed themselves over the finish line with two straight-set wins at the top two singles positions. Lang, at No. 1, lost 6-2, 7-5 while senior Jusin Cvitanovic lost a close 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) match. GCU dropped the final two matches, including the third tiebreaker at No. 4 with Grant losing 7-5, 7-6 (8-6).

The Lopes will look to end the weekend on a high note against Boise State on Sunday at 11 a.m. The Broncos picked up their first win of the season on Friday over Montana 6-1.