Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Oklahoma
Red Raiders Top Oklahoma, 4-3, on Senior Day
April 19, 2009 | Men's Tennis
April 19, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas - The No. 34-ranked Texas Tech men's tennis team ended its two-match losing streak and improved its NCAA Championship chances with a 4-3 victory over No. 38 Oklahoma Sunday afternoon at the McLeod Tennis Center.
With the win, Tech is now 13-10 overall and 2-4 in Big 12 play, which is likely good enough to qualify for the NCAA Championship heading into the conference tournament this week. The Sooners drop to 12-9 overall and 1-5 in conference.
After falling behind early in doubles, all three of Tech's duos overcame 4-1 deficits to win the doubles point, which included two wins over ranked OU tandems. David Gonzalez and Gonzalo Escobar opened the day with an 8-6 victory at the No. 3 position, while Sinisa Markovic and Michael Breler upset the No. 65 duo of Andrei Daescu and David Pultr, 8-6, in the second slot.
After the point had been deciding, Raony Carvalho and Christian Rojmar held on for a close 7-6 (6) victory over the No. 42 duo tandem of Ionut Beleleu and Sergey Avdeyev.
Tech would gain another point quick in singles as OU's top player, Daescu, retired in the match's first game due to injury to give Carvalho the win. The Sooners would rebound to make the score 2-1, however, as George Chanturia downed Breler in straight sets at the No. 5 positions, 6-2, 6-4.
Milos Kustudija and Markovic would clinch the match from there as Kustidija downed Blake Boswell, 6-1, 7-5, at the No. 6 position and Markovic topped Avdeyev, 7-5, 6-3, to give Tech the victory.
After the match was clinched, Escobar retired in the third set to Beleleu to prevent further injury to a lingering hurt wrist, while Rojmar was edged in a third-set tiebreaker to Pultr, falling 6-7 (5), 7-6 (3), 1-0 (9).
With the win, the Red Raiders finish the regular season tied for fourth in the conference and will face Oklahoma State in the first round of the Big 12 Championships that are set to begin on Friday. The two schools split the series between them this season with Tech taking a 4-1 victory at the Blue Gray Tennis Classic in March and OSU edging the Red Raiders, 4-3, Friday night.
"I was really glad we got the win today for our five seniors," Tech head coach Tim Siegel said. "These guys have meant so much for our program, and I'm especially proud for James Wilson, who is without a doubt the heart and soul of our team. We now have to get ready for the Big 12 Tournament and a big match against Oklahoma State on Friday."
The Big 12 Championships will be held April 24-26 at the Headington Family Tennis Center in Norman, Okla. Tech and Oklahoma State's first round match is scheduled for 3 p.m. first serve on Friday.
No. 34 Texas Tech - 4
No. 38 Oklahoma - 3
McLeod Tennis Center - Lubbock, Texas
Singles
1. No. 41 Raony Carvalho (TTU) def. No. 66 Andrei Daescu (OU) retired
2. No. 109 Sinisa Markovic (TTU) def. Sergey Avdeyev (OU) 7-5, 6-3
3. Ionut Beleleu (OU) def. Gonzalo Escobar (TTU) 0-6, 7-5, 1-1, retired
4. David Pultr (OU) def. Christian Rojmar (TTU) 6-7 (5), 7-6 (3), 1-0 (9)
5. George Chanturia (OU) def. Michael Breler (TTU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Milos Kustudija (TTU) def. Blake Boswell (OU) 6-1, 7-5
Doubles
1. No. 12 Carvalho/Rojmar (TTU) def. No. 42 Beleleu/Avdeyev (OU) 7-6 (6)
2. Markovic/ Breler (TTU) def. No. 65 Daescu/Pultr (OU) 8-6
3. David Gonzalez/Escobar (TTU) def. Boswell/Chase Miller (OU) 8-6
Match Notes
Oklahoma 12-9; 1-5; National ranking: No. 38
Texas Tech 13-10; 2-4; National ranking: No. 34
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,5,6,2,3,4)
Players Mentioned
