Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Rice
Men's Netters Upset No. 26 Rice
April 05, 2003 | Cowboy Tennis
April 5, 2003
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State's men's tennis team defeated Rice, 4-3, on Saturday at the DeBois Tennis Center in Stillwater, Okla. The Cowboys improved to 9-3 on the season.
OSU fell behind 1-0 after dropping two of three doubles matches but battled back to win four of six singles matches.
Freshman Juan Felipe Diaz recorded the first team point for the Cowboys at the No. 6 singles position by defeating Takehiko Morita, 6-3, 6-3. Senior Jiri Jezek followed with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Cody Jackson at the No. 4 singles spot.
Sophomore Boris Kuharic gave the Cowboys their third team point by defeating Konstantin Haerle, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, at the No. 3 singles position.
Sophomore Mark Van Elden clinched the match for the Cowboys at the No. 1 singles spot. After dropping the first set Van Elden battled back to defeat 22nd-ranked Richard Barker, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
"It felt great to get this win," said Van Elden. "I have had a lot of close matches recently and finally had one go my way."
The win marks the second straight match that the Cowboys have defeated a team ranked in the top 30.
"This is a huge match for us," said Head Coach James Wadley. "They have a tremendous team and was great to see our guys battle back."
The Cowboys will return to action on Thursday, April 9 when they travel to Norman, Okla. to take on bedlam rival Oklahoma.
Doubles
1)#2 Barker/Barker (Rice) def. Van Elden/Jezek (OSU), 8-4
2) Jackson/Haerle (Rice) def. Bondarchuk/Spousta (OSU), 8-5
3) Kuharic/Felipe Diaz (OSU) def. Rajevac/Morita (Rice), 8-5
Singles
1)Mark Van Elden (OSU) def. #22 Richard Barker (Rice), 3-6,6-4,6-3
2)#36 William Barker (RIce) def. Yevgen Bondarchuk (OSU), 6-2,6-2
3)Boris Kuharic (OSU) def. Konstantin Haerle (Rice), 6-3,3-6,6-2
4)Jiri Jezek (OSU) def. Cody Jackson (Rice), 6-3,6-4
5)Vuk Rajevac (Rice) def. Tomas Bohunicky (OSU), 6-4,3-6,6-4
6)Juan Felipe Diaz (OSU) def. Takehiko Morita (Rice), 6-3,6-3
