Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Fall in NCAA First Round, 4-3
May 17, 2004 | Cowboy Tennis
The No. 31 Cowboys (17-6) jumped out to a commanding 3-1 lead before dropping the final three singles bouts against No. 27 Arkansas (15-9).
“We were able to come out very strong,” said head coach James Wadley. “After picking up the doubles point, our singles positions gained momentum and played well. Mark (Van Elden) and Boris (Kuharic) picked up solid, straight set victories for us and got us started in the right direction.”
At the No. 3 doubles position, sophomore Juan Felipe Diaz and freshman Daniel Byrnes shutout Adrians Zguns and Rohan Gajjar, 8-0.
Senior Yevgen Bondarchuk and junior Boris Kuharic secured the team point for the Cowboys by picking up an 8-5 decision over Matt Roberts and Imraan Ismail at the second position.
OSU extended the lead when No. 24 Mark Van Elden defeated No. 38 Nathan Price in straight sets at the top singles slot, 6-3, 6-2.
Arkansas tallied their first team point at the sixth position when Diaz retired in the third set.
“Juan came back from a poor first set and won the second 6-1,” Wadley said. “While playing, he sprained his ankle and was unable to continue on it.”
The Cowboys posted their last point at the No. 4 position. Kuharic downed Matt Simpson in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6 (3).
Bondarchuk gave No. 18 Zguns a scare at the second position before falling 7-6 (5), 6-4. The Razorbacks tied the match when Roberts came from behind to defeat Byrnes at the fifth position, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
OSU dropped the final match of the day at the third position where Gajjar held off a charging Tomas Bohunicky, 6-3, 7-6 (4), allowing the Razorbacks to advance to the Round of 32.
“This was just a real good college match,” Wadley said. “With the final matches as close as they were, it was amazing for the fans to watch. Unfortunately for us, Arkansas played just a little bit better.”
The loss marked the first time that the Cowboys have been defeated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament since a 5-2 setback against South Carolina in the 1991 campaign.
The Cowboys' Van Elden will compete later this month in the NCAA Individual Tournament at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Okla.
Singles:
No. 1 - #24 Mark Van Elden (OSU) def. #38 Nathan Price, 6-3, 6-2
No. 2 - #18 Adrians Zguns (UA) def. Yevgen Bondarchuk, 7-6 (5), 6-4
No. 3 - Rohan Gajjar (UA) def. Tomas Bohunicky, 6-3, 7-6 (4)
No. 4 - Boris Kuharic (OSU) def. Matt Simpson, 6-4, 7-6 (3)
No. 5 - Matt Roberts (UA) def. Daniel Byrnes, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
No. 6 - Imraan Ismail (UA) def. Juan Felipe Diaz, 4-6, 6-1, ret.
Doubles:
No. 1 - #52 Price/Simpson (UA) vs. Van Elden/Bohunicky, 7-6 (susp)
No. 2 - Bondarchuk/Kuharic (OSU) def. Roberts/Ismail, 8-5
No. 3 - Byrnes/Diaz (OSU) def. Zguns/ Gajjar, 8-0
