Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Tennis Set to Open Conference Play
March 15, 2005 | Cowboy Tennis
The Cowboys (9-3) are coming off a weekend trip to Las Vegas where they split a pair of matches, defeating Ball State, 6-1, before losing to UNLV, 4-3.
The team will have several lineup changes entering conference play, moving sophomore Daniel Byrnes up from No. 6 to No. 4 singles, and moving sophomore Artie Burmistrau and junior Felipe Diaz down one spot each to Nos. 5 and 6, respectively.
Nebraska enters the match at 7-6 overall and 0-1 in conference play. The Huskers posted a marquee win over 16th-ranked RIce to begin the season, but have lost their last two matches.
OSU is 39-6 all-time against Nebraska, and won last year's match in Lincoln, 7-0.
Baylor is the defending national champion and is ranked No. 1 in the country. The Bears (13-0, 2-0) have won 37 consecutive matches and feature three players ranked in the top 40.
Benedikt Dorsch, currently rated No. 1 in the nation, will play senior Mark Van Elden at No. 1 singles. Benjamin Becker is the reigning national singles champion and is currently ranked 37th. He will square off against Tomas Bohunicky at the No. 2 position. Lars Poerschke is ranked 19th and will play senior Boris Kuharic at No. 3 singles.
The Bears are equally strong in doubles play. Dorsch and Matija Zgaga are the 12th-ranked duo in the country and will play Kuharic and Diaz at No. 1, while Poerschke and Michal Kokta are ranked 22nd, and will face Van Elden and Byrnes at No. 2.
The Cowboys are 5-8 all-time against Baylor and have not beaten the Bears since 1998.
