Cheney, Wash. - The Eastern Washington University men's tennis team concluded its road swing with a victory over Big Sky Conference foe North Dakota yesterday, Feb. 14, and now returns home to host Portland State on Saturday, Feb. 20, at 11 a.m. PST.

Eastern has gotten off to a terrific start this season, with junior Robert Dula leading the team. Dula is currently undefeated at 7-0 in singles duals, and paired with with teammate freshman Victor Pereira, they are 6-1 in doubles matches.

Portland State sits at 5-1 in the spring schedule and 1-0 in league play. In the Eagles' last matchup with Portland State, they came out with the victory 6-1. PSU defeated Seattle University on the road, 4-3 in its last match on Friday, Feb. 12. Leading the Vikings is sophomore Nathan Boniel, who is an undefeated 6-0 in singles duals this season. He is 3-2 in doubles matches paired with teammate Will Cochrane.

Eastern just concluded a three match long road trip, beating Big Sky Conference opponent North Dakota 4-3 on Sunday, Feb. 14. With the win, EWU now sits at 5-2 in dual matches on the season and 2-0 in league play, while currently placing first in the conference standings.

In the doubles competition, the Eagles won all three matches. In the No. 1 spot, Robert Dula and Victor Pereira defeated the duo of David Bergstrom and Travis Lau 6-4. The other victories include the team of sophomore Vuk Vuckovic and senior Eduardo Bringold beating Connor Oberle and Matt Hokanson 6-4, and junior Luke Ness with junior Rendell Burghart topping Joe Lee and Ty Misialek 6-1.

Dula continued his domination of opposing teams' top player by taking down Bergstrom 6-1, 6-2. Bringold took a strong victory over Oberle 6-3, 6-1, while Burghart took the win over Lee in a close contest, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4. Vuckovic played in an absolute battle against Lau, falling short in two tiebreakers, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-2). Freshman Junichi Minakata made his dual match debut for Eastern, dropping to Eshan Varma in three sets, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Results:

Eastern Washington - 4

North Dakota – 3

Doubles:

1. DULA, Robert/PEREIRA, Victor (EWU) def. Bergstrom, David/Lau, Travis (UND) 6-4

2. VUCKOVIC, Vuk/BRINGOLD, Eduardo (EWU) def. Oberle, Connor/Hokanson, Matt (UND) 6-4

3. NESS, Luke/BURGHART, Rendell (EWU) def. Lee, Joe/Misialek, Ty (UND) 6-1

Singles:

1. DULA, Robert (EWU) def. Bergstrom, David (UND) 6-1, 6-2

2. BRINGOLD, Eduardo (EWU) def. Oberle, Connor (UND) 6-3, 6-1

3. Misialek, Ty (UND) def. PEREIRA, Victor (EWU) 3-6, 7-5, 5-2

4. Lau, Travis (UND) def. VUCKOVIC, Vuk (EWU) 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-2)

5. BURGHART, Rendell (EWU) def. Lee, Joe (UND) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4

6. Varma, Eshan (UND) def. MINAKATA, Junichi (EWU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2