Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys to Open Big 12 Tournament Play
June 21, 1999 | Cowboy Tennis
April 28, 1999
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State's Cowboy tennis team will be looking for its first Big 12 Tournament Title as they face eighth-seeded Colorado at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Oklahoma State is 1-2 overall in the Big 12 tournament. Last year, they lost to Kansas 4-1 in the first round of the tournament . In 1997, the Cowboys defeated Texas Tech 4-3 in the first round before falling to Texas 4-0 in the quarterfinals.
The Cowboys are led by senior Rob Howarth at No. 1 singles. He is 12-6 overall and has won his last five matches with three wins over ranked opponents. Howarth defeated 91st-ranked Dony Papadia of Colorado 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 before upsetting 100th-ranked Dinko Verzi of Nebraska 6-1, 6-1. Last weekend, Howarth also defeated 18th-ranked Luis Uribe of Kansas 6-3, 6-2.
Howarth and freshman Matt Prentice have also defeated several ranked opponents throughout the season. The duo defeated then first-ranked Shuon Madden and Dumitry Caradima of Texas A&M in their first match of the season. They have compiled a 12-4 overall record and are currently ranked 47th nationally.
