LOS ANGELES- The Loyola Marymount men's tennis team (5-13) fell short in a hard fight conference battle to the Portland Pilots, 4-3, Friday afternoon.

The Lions picked up a close victory in doubles, after losing on court 1 to Neos/Pankin, the Lions pulled the wins out as positions 2 and 3 pairs Jose Dominguez Alonso/Toky Ranaivo and Emin Torlic/Austin Di Giulio held strong for LMU.
 
In singles, competition was tight as the Lions picked up the first victory with Emin Torlic dominated at position 4 to make the score 2-0. The Pilots did respond with wins on courts 1 and 6 to tie the match, 2-2.
 
The Lions would continue to fight as John Bryan Otico pulled the dual out on court 3, giving the Lions a chance to win one of the final matches on courts 2 and 5. However, the Pilots were able to pull out both wins to defeat the Lions in the intense conference match.
 
the Lions played solid, especially at positions 1 and 5, as Dane Esses and Austin Di Giulio dominated their courts with great victories but collectively couldn't pick up their first conference win.   

Portland 4, LMU Men's Tennis 3
 
Doubles competition
1. Eleftherios Neos/Sema Pankin (POR) def. Charles Roberts/Thien Nguyen (LMUM) 7-5
2. Jose Dominguez Alonso/Toky Ranaivo (LMUM) def. Nicolas Ocana/Nikolas Tvedt (POR) 7-5
3. Emin Torlic/Austin Di Giulio (LMUM) def. Issa Yoshida/Nicklas Oberg (POR) 7-6
 
Singles competition
1. Sema Pankin (POR) def. Dane Esses (LMUM) 7-6, 6-2
2. Eleftherios Neos (POR) def. Jose Dominguez Alonso (LMUM) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
3. John Bryan Otico (LMUM) def. Nicolas Ocana (POR) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
4. Emin Torlic (LMUM) def. Issa Yoshida (POR) 6-3, 6-4
5. Nikolas Tvedt (POR) def. Austin Di Giulio (LMUM) 4-6, 6-4, 7-6
6. Oscar Brown (POR) def. Rana-Roop Bhullar (LMUM) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
 
 
Match Notes:
Portland 6-8
LMU Men's Tennis 5-13
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (4,1,6,3,2,5)
 
 
Next up: The Lions will return to LMU Tennis Center tomorrow for another WCC match, as they will host the Gonzaga Bulldogs at 11:00 a.m. PST.