Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Tennis slides past Boise State, 4-3.
April 08, 2001 | Cowboy Tennis
April 8, 2001
Oklahoma State's 42nd-ranked men's tennis team won four-of-six singles matches en route to a 4-3 victory over Boise State on Sunday at the DeBois Tennis Center.
"This was a hard faught match," head coach James Wadley said. "Anytime you lose the doubles point it is hard to battle back and win four singles matches. But we did it today and I am very proud of the guys."
OSU battled all day at the Nos. 1 and 2 doubles positions. Junior Matt Prentice and freshman Anthony Zafiris teamed up for the first time all season at the No. 1 spot, only to drop an 8-6 decision to Marcus Berntson and Mark Roberts, while senior Chris Bates and junior Fran Krepelka lost to Guillaume Bouvier and Rio Kuharski, 8-5.
Junior Jiri Jezek and sophomore Eru Lyndon blew past Jonny Biorkman and Mark Edney, 8-4, giving OSU its only doubles victory.
"We tried different combinations at the 1 and 3 doubles. I was very proud of the 3 doubles. They came out and played well and got the victory," Wadley said. "1 and 2 doubles just couldn't get it done. They battled and fought but it wasn't there today."
OSU recorded its first point when Jezek bounced Mahmoud Rezek, 6-2, 6-0, at the No. 5 spot. Zafiris upended Biorkman, 6-4, 6-1, at the No. 6 position to give the Cowboys a 2-1 lead.
The Broncos then tied the score when Berntson defeated Lyndon, 6-4, 6-2, at the No. 2 spot.
With the score tied at 2, the Cowboys needed to win at least two matches to clinch the victory.
Boise State's 94th-ranked Roberts defeated Bates in three sets, 7-6, 3-6, 6-4, at the No. 3 spot, while Krepelka defeated Rio Kuharski, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, to give OSU its third point.
With the score tied at three, it was up to junior Matt Prentice at the No. 1 doubles. The 52nd-ranked New Zealand native battled Bouvier all day long. After winning the first set, 7-6, Prentice dropped the second set, 6-7.
Prentice kept his composure and played outstanding in the third set. After scoring the first four points, Prentice cruised to a 6-1 victory over Bouvier, earning the Cowboys the fourth team point and the victory.
With the win, the Cowboys are 10-7 and will return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Norman to take on the Sooners.
Match Results
Singles
1) Prentice (O) d. Bouvier (B) 7-6, 6-7, 6-1
2) Berntson (B) d. Lyndon (O) 6-4, 6-2
3) Roberts (B) d. Bates (O) 7-6, 3-6, 6-4
4) Krepelka (O) d. Kuharski (B) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
5) Jezek (O) d. Rezek (B) 6-2, 6-0
6) Zafiris (O) d. Biorkman (B) 6-4, 6-1
Doubles
1) Berntson/Roberts (B) d. Prentice/Zafiris (O) 8-6
2) Bouvier/Kuharski (B) d. Bates/Krepelka (O) 8-5
3) Jezek/Lyndon (O) d. Biorkman/Edney (B) 8-4
