Oklahoma State University Athletics
Trio of Cowboys Advance at Central Region Championships
October 23, 2006 | Cowboy Tennis
Three members of Oklahoma State's men's tennis team are still alive in the main draw at the 2006 Wilson/ITA Central Region Championships at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Okla.
Daniel Byrnes, the 11th-ranked player in the country, faced Illinois State's Alfredo Lagarda in the first round and downed him, 6-2, 6-1. In the second round, it was a little closer as the Cowboy All-American was victories over Arkansas' Dmitry Vlaskin, 6-2, 7-5. Byrnes, the region's top seed, is now four wins from repeating as the region's champion.
No. 61 Ivan Puchkarov, the third seed in the region, has had a great fall and he did not skip a beat in the first two rounds of the tournament. The Central Region's Newcomer of the Year last year got a straight sets victory over UMKC's Richard Harrison, 6-2, 6-0. In the round of 32, Puchkarov and UALR's Edson Abrao split the first two sets but Puchkarov responded and rolled in the third set, 6-1.
Artie Burmistrau rounded out the trio of Cowboys, as he downed SIU's Rodrigo Lama in the first round, 6-1, 6-1. It was more of the same in the round of 32 as the senior defeated Drake's Ricardo Lau, 6-1, 6-3.
In other singles action, sophomore Alex Kotsiuk got a, 6-4, 6-4, win over Wichita State's Albert Ballesta before falling in the second round.
Sophomore Nathan Byrnes is still alive in the consolation bracket, as the Australian native bounced back from a tough first round loss to defeat Wichita State's Thiago Dos Santos, 6-1, 1-6, 10-8.
The Cowboys are also fairing well in doubles plays with two teams winning their first round bouts.
The brother combo of Daniel and Nathan Byrnes, ranked eighth in the nation, got a tougher than expected first-round match against Nebraska's James Clow and Francois Van Impe but prevailed, 9-8 (3).
Burmistrau and Puchkarov picked up a quick win as they downed Arkansas' Andreo Nicoara and Drew Sosebee, 8-2. The duo will face Oklahoma 35th-ranked team of Marek Velicka and Frederico Chavarria, the region's second seed, on Saturday.
The Central Region Championships will continue on Saturday in Tulsa.
Singles-Round of 64
#11 Byrnes (OSU) def. Lagarda (ISU); 6-2, 6-1
Szatmary (NU) def. N. Byrnes (OSU); 7-5, 7-6 (0)
#61 Puchkarov (OSU) def. Harrison (UMKC); 6-2, 6-0
Kotsiuk (OSU) def. Ballesta (WSU); 6-4, 6-4
Gray (UT) def. Wright (OSU); 6-4, 6-0
Burmistrau (OSU) def. Lama (SIU); 6-1, 6-1
Round of 32
#11 Byrnes (OSU) def. Vlaskin (UA); 6-2, 7-5
#61 Puchkarov (OSU) def. Mascall; 5-7, 6-4, 6-1
Abrao (UALR) def. Kotsiuk (OSU); 6-4, 6-4
Burmistrau (OSU) def. Lau (DU); 6-1, 6-3
Consolations
N. Byrnes (OSU) def. Dos Santos (WSU); 6-1, 1-6, 10-8
Villanuevea (UA) def. Wright (OSU); 6-2, 6-1
Doubles-Round of 64
#8 Byrnes/Byrnes (OSU) def. Vlaskin/Mattos (UA); 9-8 (3)
Villanueva/Lebedev (UA) def. Wright/Kotsiuk (OSU); 8-6
Burmistrau/Puchkarov (OSU) def. Nicoara/Sosebee (UA); 8-2
