GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Following a thrilling Friday afternoon match, Saturday marked a rematch between the North Dakota and Montana men's tennis squads and featured an opposite result, as the Fighting Hawks fell, 5-2, inside Choice Health & Fitness to split the weekend series against the Grizzlies.
 
UND struck first in fierce fashion during doubles play, which was all but kickstarted with a 6-3 win at the No. 1 court from the duo of Leo Galliano and Walker Valentine. Montana fought back and took a tight-knit 7-5 win from the No. 3 court, putting all eyes on the middle position.
 
Christos Alex and Darrshan Suresh Kumar had teamed up for the battle, which soon knotted up at 6-6 and forced a tiebreaker. The grind continued to be close, but it was the North Dakota duo that emerged victorious to secure the 1-0 lead for UND.
 
The momentum began to flip when singles play began. Montana collected the first four straight matches to clinch the win, beginning with a 6-1, 6-3 win at the No. 4 court. A 6-3, 6-2 win soon followed at the No. 5 position before a 7-5, 6-1 showing at the bottom court made it a 3-1 lead for the visitors. The clinch came off the No. 2 court via a 6-3, 7-6 win, forcing the 1-1 weekend split against the Grizzlies.
 
Galliano did earn a singles victory after dropping the first set, 7-6, and taking the second set, 6-4. His Montana opponent retired due to injury when Galliano held the 2-0 lead to give UND its second point on the day.
 
Competition concluded in nail-biting fashion at the No. 3 court, where Justin Ilic had taken the opening set, 6-4. He dropped in the second, 7-5, and was forced into a tight-knit tiebreaker in the third, eventually falling 7-6 (10-8).
 
North Dakota men's tennis returns to the road for its first conference match of the season, facing Oral Roberts on Friday, March 6 before heading to face Northeastern State on Sunday, March 8.   

For more information on North Dakota men's tennis, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDmtennis.