Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma versus South Carolina Postgame Quotes
May 14, 2005 | Cowboy Tennis
2005 NCAA Men's Tennis Regionals
1st and 2nd Rounds
May 14-15 - Stillwater, OK
Jack DeBois Tennis Center
Postgame Quotes
Oklahoma Quotes:
Oklahoma Head Coach Paul Lockwood
On the Match
“I thought we fought hard. I didn't think we played well in doubles and it is hard to give the 19th-ranked team a point and have to come back and win four out of six singles matches. We put ourselves in a position to do it, but we just didn't have enough shots down the stretch. I am proud of the effort and I think we bounced back from the poor showing in doubles and fought really hard in the singles.”
On His Team's Effort In Singles Play
“Lee Gregg at No. 6 was a huge win. That gave us the opportunity to win a 4-3 match. He was down 4-1 in the third, so I was proud of his concentration, focus and toughness down the stretch. Tommy Garrison and Ondrej Fukala were the ones who really started it off for us by collecting quick wins. For a short while, we were up 2-1 and they really played outstanding for us and have all season for us. They have the best records on the team and they kind of played today like they have the rest of the season. Marek Velicka at No. 1 was a couple of set points away from winning the first set and had a couple of opportunities. When you are playing at No. 1, you are playing somebody that is not going to give it to you and you are going to have to earn it. Marek was just an inch or two short on a couple of his shots, but I know he tried and gave a great effort. I am proud of all of the players and we gave it everything we could, it just wasn't meant to happen.”
South Carolina Quotes:
South Carolina Head Coach Kent DeMarsOn the Match
“I know the players that they (Oklahoma) have and what they have done. When you get to the NCAA Tournament, you can expect a good match. It was a little sloppy on both sides. It has probably been three or four weeks since both teams played, so you kind of lose your rhythm a little bit, but all four teams are in the same boat. You just aren't quite as sharp. Instead of coaching by telling them what to do and play, I am just trying to keep them in a rhythm. The No. 6 guy is over there just trying to get balls in play. That is a frustrating thing to do, telling to just get the ball in play rather than trying to figure something out. All of these teams are good and I certainly respect everybody here.”
“I don't think anybody is really sharp. You would like to go into the NCAAs playing your very best. I give them (Oklahoma) all of the credit. They could have easily won this match. We were fortunate to win.”
On the Weather
“The last few days have been sort of rough, but they predicted this the whole time that today and tomorrow would be good. I am sure glad that it hasn't turned into an indoor tournament. I didn't want that at all. We have our own indoor, so it wouldn't have been a problem for us. I coached in Illinois, so I am familiar with the winds and things like that. It is pretty quiet in South Carolina, but the conditions were perfect.”
