Katie Poluyansky

Duck senior Pierre Mouesca anticipates the opponents move. On Janurary 17, 2026, the University of Oregon’s men’s tennis team played against the University of Portland in the student tennis center in Eugene, Ore. (Katie Poluyansky/Emerald)

The Oregon Men’s Tennis team (7-2) went down to the wire with Utah State University (3-2) before coming out on top in a winner-take-all set to take the match, 4-3.

The Ducks got rolling early in the doubles round and swept Utah State 2-0, which ultimately proved to be the difference in the game.

Matthew Burton and Pierre Mouesca had a close battle going with their opponents. They were one point away from winning when the set was called due to Oregon sweeping the segment.

Vlad Breazu and Declan Galligan jumped to an early 5-0 lead before their opponents found an answer. Despite some fight late from their opponents, they had no trouble finishing it off 6-2.

Cameron Burton and Lachlan Robertson battled their opponents back and forth, but they had the edge late and clinched  the sweep for Oregon, 6-4.

Entering singles, the match only got more competitive.

Breazu got off to a slow start, but after trailing 2-1, he went on a run to win the first set 6-2. He had to work a little harder in his second set, but still pulled ahead two breaks, 6-4 and swept his match.

Mouesca had nothing going in his first singles set and was shutout 6-0. He improved in the second set, but still fell short 6-4 and dropped his match.

Sam Olszakowski battled his opponent all the way down the stretch in the opening set. He found himself still tied at 6 to force a tiebreaker, which he won 7-1 to claim the first set. His opponent came back in the second set with a 6-3 win and sent the match to a third set. Olszakowski stood no chance in the final set, losing 6-1 to close out his match.

Matthew Burton fell behind early and found himself trailing 5-1. He threatened a comeback but fell short 6-3. The script flipped in the second set as Burton found himself on top 6-3, but fell flatfooted in the final set, 6-1 to drop his match.

Russell Soohoo had another battle that was fairly close, but he held on for the 6-4 win in the first set. He had no trouble in his second set, winning 6-3 to sweep his match.

Robertson also faced a tight battle that was tied at five late, but he pulled ahead for the 7-5 win. His opponent also rebounded in the second set and forced a third one with a 6-4 win. With the match tied 3-3, the outcome rested in the hands of this final set, which was in a deuce tied at five until Robertson pulled ahead 7-5 to claim the match for Oregon.

The Ducks return to action Feb. 13 when they host the Liberty University Flames at 5:00 p.m.