Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys ready to open 2001 spring season
January 25, 2001 | Cowboy Tennis
Jan. 25, 2001
Oklahoma State's men's tennis team kicks off the spring season on Sunday when they travel to Tulsa on January 28 to take on Texas-San Antonio.
With five returning starters from last year's squad, the Cowboys enter the season with high expectations.
"I am glad that we are finally starting the season," assistant coach Brad Chiller said. "Having a lay-off like we did without any matches is tough, but I think we will be ready to play."
The Cowboys are coming off an impressive fall in which they captured the Region V Team Championship, qualifying them for the 16-team national tournament in mid-February.
Junior Matt Prentice, who will bring a No. 69 national ranking into the season, had an outstanding fall after notching a 9-1 record and winning the regions individual crown. Senior Chris Bates, junior Fran Krepelka and sophomore Eru Lyndon all had impressive fall campaigns too. The trio talied a combined 24-7 singles record in the fall.
Rounding out the Cowboy lineup are sophomore Jiri Jezek, who finished the fall with a record of 5-2, and newcomer Anthony Zafiris. Zafiris, a freshman from Melbourne, Australia, joined the squad in January.
"The top five players are playing really well at this time," assistant coach Brad Chiller said. "They are all fresh and ready to get some matches in."
The only two schools meeting came in 1996, with the Cowboys prevailing 6-1.
