Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Set for Big Road Trip
April 23, 2007 | Cowboy Tennis
Oklahoma State's 7th-ranked men's tennis squad is set for a huge weekend as it travels to Texas for its final road trip of the season.
Friday the Cowboys (15-1, 3-0) will face No. 4 Baylor (20-3, 4-0) in a battle of top-10 teams at 6 p.m. at the Baylor Tennis Center in Waco. The match against the Bears will feature the four-highest ranked individuals in the Big 12. OSU will then head to Lubbock to play No. 42 Texas Tech (12-8, 1-3) Sunday at 1 p.m. If the Pokes can win both matches they will clinch at least a share of their first-ever Big 12 title in men's tennis.
The Cowboys enter the contest winners of their last 11 and ranked No. 7 in the country, the highest ranking in the program's history. OSU is one of the hottest team in the country as it has outscored its opponents 43-7 in the last eight outings. The Pokes' lone loss this season came at the hands of seventh-ranked Illinois in Chicago.
The Pokes continue to be paced in singles play by No. 30 Oleksandr Nedovyesov. The freshman has won 10-straight matches, all in straight sets. He is currently tied with freshman Dmytro Petrov for the team lead in wins with 13. Ivan Puchkarov, winner of his last four, is the highest ranked Cowboy at No. 26 and has won 25 matches this school year. Senior Artie Burmistrau is putting the finishing touches on an outstanding career as he has won his last nine matches.
Nedovyesov teams with Daniel Byrnes, an All-American last season, to form the Cowboys' top doubles team.
Scouting #4 Baylor (20-3, 4-0)
The Bears enter the weekend 20-3 overall and 4-0 in Big 12 play. BU's three losses this season have come against No. 1 Georgia, No. 3 Ohio State and No. 20 Florida. The Bears' best win this season came against No. 2 Virginia, 6-1. Their lineup features two All-Americans in Lars Poerschke and Matija Zgaga.
Head coach Matt Knoll, in his 11th season in Waco, has built Baylor into a national power. The Bears have advanced to four-straight final fours and won the national title in 2004. Baylor leads the all-time series 12-5. OSU won the first five in the series but has not notched a win against the Bears since 1998.
Scouting #42 Texas Tech (12-8, 1-3)
Texas Tech is 12-8 this season and 1-3 in conference action. The Red Raiders are coming off a narrow 4-3 loss to No. 4 Baylor last weekend. All of their losses this season have come against ranked foes.
The Red Raiders are coached by Tim Siegal who is in his 15th season with the program. OSU leads the all-time series 14-4 and has won the last four. Neither Cowboy seniors Daniel Byrnes or Artie Burmistrau have dropped a singles or doubles match against TTU in their career.
Last Time Out
The Cowboys lost the doubles point for the first time since National Indoors but got singles wins from Olesksandr Nedovyesov, Ivan Puchkarov, Dmytro Petrov to win a thriller against Texas A&M, 4-3, in Stillwater. The win was OSU's 11th-straight and fourth over the Aggies.
Third Times a Charm
On Monday, freshman Oleksandr Nedovyesov was named the Big 12's Men's Tennis Player of the Week for the third time. He has now won the award three out of a possible seven weeks and is the only player to win it multiple times this season. The freshman phenom has won his last 10 and has wins over nine individuals who are either ranked or have been at one point this season. All three of his collegiate losses have come to players currently ranked in the top 10. One of those losses, to then-ranked No. 3 Arnau Brugues of Tulsa, he has avenged.
Streaking
With 11-straight wins, the Cowboys are on quite a roll. Here is how the current streak stacks up among the program's best.
1987-88 18 1975 11
1980-81 17 1989 10
1986 15 1981 10
1959 14 1978 10
1983 12 1974 10
2006 11 1984 9
1996-97 11
1985 11
More Streaking
As the Cowboys have won nine-straight duals, there are several who are putting together impressive individual streaks. Here are the current streaks:
Player Streak Last Loss
Nedovyesov 10 February 17
Burmistrau Nine February 4
Petrov Nine February 16
Puchkarov Four March 27
Big 12 Individual Titles
Last season, OSU crowned four Big 12 individual champions (two in singles and one doubles team). Champions are determined by total wins at a position. Here is how this season's races are shaping up:
No. 1 Singles
1. Nedovyesov, OSU 3-0
2. Poerschke, Baylor 2-0
No. 2 Singles
1. Puchkarov, OSU 3-0
Pollock, TAMU 3-2
No. 4 Singles
1. Petrov, OSU 3-0
2. Zgaga, BU 2-0
Diaz-Barriga, UT 2-0
No. 5 Singles
1. Mueller, BU 3-0
Burmistrau, OSU 3-0
No. 6 Singles
1. Lukacs, BU 2-0
N. Byrnes, OSU 2-1
Nallon, TAMU 2-2
Kustudija, TTU 2-2
No. 1 Doubles
1. Galic/Zgaga, BU 3-0
Kutrovsky/Zavala, UT 3-1
2. D. Byrnes/Nedovyesov 2-1
No. 2 Doubles
1. Mihailovic/Reyes Varel 2-0
Lukacs/Poerschke, BU 2-1
Burm./N. Byrnes, OSU 2-1
Bain/Pollock, TAMU 2-3
No. 3 Doubles
1. Wooten/Ocvirk, TAMU 4-0
2. DiBlasi/Martinez, TTU 3-1
3. Puchkar./Petrov, OSU 2-1
ITA Rankings
In the last ITA rankings released Tuesday, the Cowboys climbed seven spots to No. 7, the highest ranking in the program's history. Ivan Puchkarov stayed at No. 26 while Oleksandr Nedovyesov rose two spots to No. 30
600 Win Club
With a, 5-2, win over Penn, OSU head coach James Wadley became the seventh active coach to notch 600-career wins. In 35 seasons, he has a 608-271 (.692) record. He has spent all of his 35 seasons at OSU and, amazingly, has only suffered three losing seasons.
1. Paul Scarpa, Furman 796
2. Robert Screen, Hampton 738
3. Rich Gugat, Air Force 713
4. Ron Smarr, Rice 688
5. Chuck Kriese, Clemson 668
6. Bobby Bayliss, Notre Dame 658
7. James Wadley, OSU 608
Returning Cowboys
The Cowboys return six players off last year's top-20 squad, including Daniel Byrnes, a 2006 ITA All-American. The senior had one of the most successful individual seasons in Cowboy tennis history as he was an All-American, All-Big 12 selection and was seeded in the Individual NCAA Tournament, all while fighting severe back pains. Byrnes also paired with his brother, Nathan, to form the Cowboys' top doubles tandem. The duo was an All-Big 12 selection a season ago. Nathan also returns to the squad and will look to build on a solid freshman campaign.
The Cowboys also return 2006 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, Ivan Puchkarov. Puchkarov, a junior this season, was also the Central Region Rookie of the year, Big 12 champion at No. 3 singles and a unanimous All-Big 12 selection during his first year in Stillwater.
Artie Burmistrau, an Academic All-Big 12 selection last season, went 17-3 a year ago and returns for his senior season. Also back are Oleksandr Kotsiuk, who went 12-8 as a freshman, and Jason Wright, a junior walk-on from Broken Arrow, Okla., who lettered last season.
Instant Impact
While Oklahoma State returned a solid nucleus in 2007 it was imperative for Wadley and assistant coach Yevgen Bondarchuk to add more talent to the roster, and that is exactly what they did. Oleksandr Nedovyesov and Dmytro Petrov joined the squad in January and have already made an impact. Nedovyesov has stepped in at No. 1 singles and gone 13-3, with nine wins over ranked opponents, including a win over the No. 3-ranked player in college tennis. He is also the fourth highest-ranked freshman in the country and teams with Daniel Byrnes at No. 1 doubles. Petrov has been a force in the middle of the Cowboy lineup, where he currently leads the team in winning percentage and is tied with Nedovyesov for the team lead in wins.
Head Coach James Wadley
James Wadley is entering in his 35th year leading the Oklahoma State men's tennis program. His 35 years of service is the second longest tenure in Oklahoma State athletic history, trailing only the legendary Henry Iba.
Wadley has amassed 608 career wins along with 12 conference titles. He has also been named conference coach of the year 12 times. In his previous 34 years at Oklahoma State, Wadley has had only three losing seasons.
Assistant Coach Yevgen Bondarchuk
Assistant coach Yevgen Bondarchuk has made quite an impact on the Oklahoma State program entering just his third season on staff. The Oklahoma State alumnus is vital to OSU's international recruiting and landed the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, Ivan Puchkarov. Bondarchuk was recognized as the Central Region's Assistant Coach of the Year for his work last season. Bondarchuk played for two years under Coach Wadley and was ranked as high as 55th at one point by the ITA.
Friday the Cowboys (15-1, 3-0) will face No. 4 Baylor (20-3, 4-0) in a battle of top-10 teams at 6 p.m. at the Baylor Tennis Center in Waco. The match against the Bears will feature the four-highest ranked individuals in the Big 12. OSU will then head to Lubbock to play No. 42 Texas Tech (12-8, 1-3) Sunday at 1 p.m. If the Pokes can win both matches they will clinch at least a share of their first-ever Big 12 title in men's tennis.
The Cowboys enter the contest winners of their last 11 and ranked No. 7 in the country, the highest ranking in the program's history. OSU is one of the hottest team in the country as it has outscored its opponents 43-7 in the last eight outings. The Pokes' lone loss this season came at the hands of seventh-ranked Illinois in Chicago.
The Pokes continue to be paced in singles play by No. 30 Oleksandr Nedovyesov. The freshman has won 10-straight matches, all in straight sets. He is currently tied with freshman Dmytro Petrov for the team lead in wins with 13. Ivan Puchkarov, winner of his last four, is the highest ranked Cowboy at No. 26 and has won 25 matches this school year. Senior Artie Burmistrau is putting the finishing touches on an outstanding career as he has won his last nine matches.
Nedovyesov teams with Daniel Byrnes, an All-American last season, to form the Cowboys' top doubles team.
Scouting #4 Baylor (20-3, 4-0)
The Bears enter the weekend 20-3 overall and 4-0 in Big 12 play. BU's three losses this season have come against No. 1 Georgia, No. 3 Ohio State and No. 20 Florida. The Bears' best win this season came against No. 2 Virginia, 6-1. Their lineup features two All-Americans in Lars Poerschke and Matija Zgaga.
Head coach Matt Knoll, in his 11th season in Waco, has built Baylor into a national power. The Bears have advanced to four-straight final fours and won the national title in 2004. Baylor leads the all-time series 12-5. OSU won the first five in the series but has not notched a win against the Bears since 1998.
Scouting #42 Texas Tech (12-8, 1-3)
Texas Tech is 12-8 this season and 1-3 in conference action. The Red Raiders are coming off a narrow 4-3 loss to No. 4 Baylor last weekend. All of their losses this season have come against ranked foes.
The Red Raiders are coached by Tim Siegal who is in his 15th season with the program. OSU leads the all-time series 14-4 and has won the last four. Neither Cowboy seniors Daniel Byrnes or Artie Burmistrau have dropped a singles or doubles match against TTU in their career.
Last Time Out
The Cowboys lost the doubles point for the first time since National Indoors but got singles wins from Olesksandr Nedovyesov, Ivan Puchkarov, Dmytro Petrov to win a thriller against Texas A&M, 4-3, in Stillwater. The win was OSU's 11th-straight and fourth over the Aggies.
Third Times a Charm
On Monday, freshman Oleksandr Nedovyesov was named the Big 12's Men's Tennis Player of the Week for the third time. He has now won the award three out of a possible seven weeks and is the only player to win it multiple times this season. The freshman phenom has won his last 10 and has wins over nine individuals who are either ranked or have been at one point this season. All three of his collegiate losses have come to players currently ranked in the top 10. One of those losses, to then-ranked No. 3 Arnau Brugues of Tulsa, he has avenged.
Streaking
With 11-straight wins, the Cowboys are on quite a roll. Here is how the current streak stacks up among the program's best.
1987-88 18 1975 11
1980-81 17 1989 10
1986 15 1981 10
1959 14 1978 10
1983 12 1974 10
2006 11 1984 9
1996-97 11
1985 11
More Streaking
As the Cowboys have won nine-straight duals, there are several who are putting together impressive individual streaks. Here are the current streaks:
Player Streak Last Loss
Nedovyesov 10 February 17
Burmistrau Nine February 4
Petrov Nine February 16
Puchkarov Four March 27
Big 12 Individual Titles
Last season, OSU crowned four Big 12 individual champions (two in singles and one doubles team). Champions are determined by total wins at a position. Here is how this season's races are shaping up:
No. 1 Singles
1. Nedovyesov, OSU 3-0
2. Poerschke, Baylor 2-0
No. 2 Singles
1. Puchkarov, OSU 3-0
Pollock, TAMU 3-2
No. 4 Singles
1. Petrov, OSU 3-0
2. Zgaga, BU 2-0
Diaz-Barriga, UT 2-0
No. 5 Singles
1. Mueller, BU 3-0
Burmistrau, OSU 3-0
No. 6 Singles
1. Lukacs, BU 2-0
N. Byrnes, OSU 2-1
Nallon, TAMU 2-2
Kustudija, TTU 2-2
No. 1 Doubles
1. Galic/Zgaga, BU 3-0
Kutrovsky/Zavala, UT 3-1
2. D. Byrnes/Nedovyesov 2-1
No. 2 Doubles
1. Mihailovic/Reyes Varel 2-0
Lukacs/Poerschke, BU 2-1
Burm./N. Byrnes, OSU 2-1
Bain/Pollock, TAMU 2-3
No. 3 Doubles
1. Wooten/Ocvirk, TAMU 4-0
2. DiBlasi/Martinez, TTU 3-1
3. Puchkar./Petrov, OSU 2-1
ITA Rankings
In the last ITA rankings released Tuesday, the Cowboys climbed seven spots to No. 7, the highest ranking in the program's history. Ivan Puchkarov stayed at No. 26 while Oleksandr Nedovyesov rose two spots to No. 30
600 Win Club
With a, 5-2, win over Penn, OSU head coach James Wadley became the seventh active coach to notch 600-career wins. In 35 seasons, he has a 608-271 (.692) record. He has spent all of his 35 seasons at OSU and, amazingly, has only suffered three losing seasons.
1. Paul Scarpa, Furman 796
2. Robert Screen, Hampton 738
3. Rich Gugat, Air Force 713
4. Ron Smarr, Rice 688
5. Chuck Kriese, Clemson 668
6. Bobby Bayliss, Notre Dame 658
7. James Wadley, OSU 608
Returning Cowboys
The Cowboys return six players off last year's top-20 squad, including Daniel Byrnes, a 2006 ITA All-American. The senior had one of the most successful individual seasons in Cowboy tennis history as he was an All-American, All-Big 12 selection and was seeded in the Individual NCAA Tournament, all while fighting severe back pains. Byrnes also paired with his brother, Nathan, to form the Cowboys' top doubles tandem. The duo was an All-Big 12 selection a season ago. Nathan also returns to the squad and will look to build on a solid freshman campaign.
The Cowboys also return 2006 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, Ivan Puchkarov. Puchkarov, a junior this season, was also the Central Region Rookie of the year, Big 12 champion at No. 3 singles and a unanimous All-Big 12 selection during his first year in Stillwater.
Artie Burmistrau, an Academic All-Big 12 selection last season, went 17-3 a year ago and returns for his senior season. Also back are Oleksandr Kotsiuk, who went 12-8 as a freshman, and Jason Wright, a junior walk-on from Broken Arrow, Okla., who lettered last season.
Instant Impact
While Oklahoma State returned a solid nucleus in 2007 it was imperative for Wadley and assistant coach Yevgen Bondarchuk to add more talent to the roster, and that is exactly what they did. Oleksandr Nedovyesov and Dmytro Petrov joined the squad in January and have already made an impact. Nedovyesov has stepped in at No. 1 singles and gone 13-3, with nine wins over ranked opponents, including a win over the No. 3-ranked player in college tennis. He is also the fourth highest-ranked freshman in the country and teams with Daniel Byrnes at No. 1 doubles. Petrov has been a force in the middle of the Cowboy lineup, where he currently leads the team in winning percentage and is tied with Nedovyesov for the team lead in wins.
Head Coach James Wadley
James Wadley is entering in his 35th year leading the Oklahoma State men's tennis program. His 35 years of service is the second longest tenure in Oklahoma State athletic history, trailing only the legendary Henry Iba.
Wadley has amassed 608 career wins along with 12 conference titles. He has also been named conference coach of the year 12 times. In his previous 34 years at Oklahoma State, Wadley has had only three losing seasons.
Assistant Coach Yevgen Bondarchuk
Assistant coach Yevgen Bondarchuk has made quite an impact on the Oklahoma State program entering just his third season on staff. The Oklahoma State alumnus is vital to OSU's international recruiting and landed the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, Ivan Puchkarov. Bondarchuk was recognized as the Central Region's Assistant Coach of the Year for his work last season. Bondarchuk played for two years under Coach Wadley and was ranked as high as 55th at one point by the ITA.
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