MOSCOW, Idaho—It took until the 17th match of the season, but the Vandals finally returned to the friendly confines of Memorial Gym Courts on Saturday. Idaho did not waste any time on the home courts, improving to 12-5 on the season and 6-2 in the Big Sky with its 6-1 win over Portland State.

“We were able to win today, convincingly,” head coach Abid Akbar noted. “Playing at home helps. Our guys are used to these conditions. We just need to continue like this with our next two home matches.”

Idaho claimed the doubles point to start the match. The Vandals opened play with a 6-1 win from Odon Barta and Felipe Fonseca. Mark Kovacs and Lucas Coutinho followed up with a 6-3 win on the No. 3 court to secure the 1-0 lead.

“With teams that are even, doubles is the difference most of the time,” Akbar added. “Today we came out strong in doubles. We have really been working hard on our doubles play. We have been using the same pairings—you need those players to play for a while to get the chemistry and understating. I think that has worked.”

Portland State (11-7, 5-4 BSC) picked up its lone point in No. 1 singles. Nathan Boniel defeated Barta, 6-2, 6-1, moments after Artem Vasheshnikov's 6-1, 6-3 win on the No. 5 court. Kovacs put the Vandals in front, 3-1, with a 6-1, 6-3 decision over Will Cochrane.

Coutinho recorded the clincher for the Vandals with a 6-4, 6-3 win from the No. 6 positon. Jackson Varney and Fonseca added wins from their respective courts to wrap up the contest.

Idaho is back home next Wednesday, April 6, taking on Big Sky rival Eastern Washington. The match is slated for a 12 p.m. PT start.

Singles competition

1. BONIEL, Nathan (PSU) def. Barta, Odon (UI) 6-2, 6-1

2. Fonseca, Felipe (UI) def. LOPEZ, Ethan (PSU) 6-4, 4-6, 10-5

3. Varney, Jackson (UI) def. WHEELER, Brent (PSU) 6-0, 6-3

4. Kovacs, Mark (UI) def. COCHRANE, Wil (PSU) 6-1, 6-3

5. Vasheshnikov, Artem (UI) def. RISENHOOVER, Ian (PSU) 6-2, 6-3

6. Coutinho, Lucas (UI) def. RISENHOOVER, Russell (PSU) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. WHEELER, Brent/LOPEZ, Ethan (PSU) def. Varney, Jackson/Vasheshnikov, Artem (UI) 6-2

2. Barta, Odon/Fonseca, Felipe (UI) def. BONIEL, Nathan/COCHRANE, Wil (PSU) 6-1

3. Kovacs, Mark/Coutinho, Lucas (UI) def. RISENHOOVER, Ian/RISENHOOVER, Russell (PSU) 6-3

Match Notes

Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (5,1,4,6,3,2)