Falcons Drop 4-3 Decision to Portland State
    Five-match winning streak snapped

    Taylor Soster won at No. 4 singles Tuesday
    Taylor Soster won at No. 4 singles Tuesday

    March 26, 2009

    The Air Force men's tennis team had its five-match winning streak snapped on Tuesday with a hard-fought 4-3 loss to Portland State in Portland, Ore. The Falcons fell to 7-11 with the defeat.

    Air Force started the match well, winning two of the three doubles matches to take a 1-0 lead. Junior Austin Francis and freshman Cody Hall teamed up to win the No. 1 doubles match, 8-4, while sophomore Johnny Buckingham and freshman Will Brown triumphed at No. 3.

    Unfortunately for the Falcons, they could muster just two singles victories. Buckingham won at the No. 5 spot, defeating Branislav Valach, 6-3, 6-4, while sophomore Taylor Soster downed Jeff Cero, 7-6(5), 6-1, at the No. 4 spot. Portland State captured the other four singles matches, all in straight sets.

    The Falcons open Mountain West Conference play this weekend at the Academy, hosting New Mexico on Friday, March 27, UNLV on Saturday and San Diego State on Sunday. All three matches are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

    Portland State 4, Air Force 3
    March 24, 2009 @ Portland, Ore.

    Singles
    1. Chris Rice (PSU) def. Austin Francis, 6-2, 6-3
    2. Alex VanDerschelden (PSU) def. Cody Hall, 6-2, 7-5
    3. Kyle Erickson (PSU) def. Brett Rodgers, 6-1, 6-4
    4. Taylor Soster (AF) def. Jeff Cero, 7-6(5), 6-1
    5. Johnny Buckingham (AF) def. Branislav Valach, 6-3, 6-4
    6. Adam Blackner (PSU) def. Will Brown, 6-4, 6-2
    Order of finish: 1, 3, 2, 4, 6*, 5

     

     

    Doubles
    1. Francis/Hall (AF) def. Rice/Blackner, 8-4
    2. Erickson/Alex Hart (PSU) def. Rodgers/Soster, 8-7(4)
    3. Buckingham/Brown (AF) def. Cero/VanDerschelden, 8-5
    Order of finish: 1, 3*, 2
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