Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
ITA All-American
Cowboy Tennis Finishes Pre-Qualifying at ITA All-American Championships
October 03, 2011 | Cowboy Tennis
Oct. 3, 2011
TULSA, Okla. - Six of Oklahoma State's men's tennis players competed at the ITA Men's All-American Championships in Tulsa this weekend.
Cowboy senior Eric West and sophomore Rifat Biktyakov each advanced to the third round of pre-qualifying singles play after getting a bye in the first round. In the second round, Biktyakov defeated Zachary Rigsby 6-0, 6-3.
West had a much closer match, as he took the victory in three sets against Giancarlo Lemmi of Liberty. He took the first set, 6-3, but lost a tight second set, 6-7 (3). He took the decisive third set, 6-2, to secure the victory.
Senior Vlad Bondarenko had a first round bye, but was defeated by David Cavalcanti from Wichita State in three sets. Bondarenko lost the first set 7-5, but evened the match, taking the second set 6-4. He lost the final set 6-4.
Freshman Christopher Haworth also received a first round bye, but could not overcome Oystein Steiro in the second round, losing in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.
Junior Trevor Horstmann lost in the first round to Siim Tuus of Liberty, 6-1, 6-0, while sophomore Brandon Champagne was also defeated in the first round, 6-1, 6-0, by Cody Hall of South Alabama.
OSU continues play today as sophomore Maniel Bains takes on Ben Davis of Middle Tennessee in qualifying singles play. OSU will also have two duos competing in qualifying doubles, as Biktyakov and Bondarenko will team up, as will Bains and West.
Pre-Qualifying Singles - First Round (Saturday, Oct. 1)
Cody Hall (South Alabama) def. Brandon Champagne (Oklahoma State) 6-1, 6-0
Siim Tuus (Liberty) def. Trevor Horstmann (Oklahoma State) 6-1, 6-0
Pre-Qualifying Singles - Second Round (Saturday, Oct. 1)
Oystein Steiro (UNC) def. Christopher Haworth (Oklahoma State) 6-3, 6-4
Eric West (Oklahoma State) def. Giancarlo Lemmi (Liberty) 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-2
David Cavalcanti (Wichita State) def. Vlad Bondarenko (Oklahoma State) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4
Rifat Biktyakov (Oklahoma State) def. Zachary Rigsby 6-0, 6-3
Pre-Qualifying Singles - Third Round (Sunday, Oct. 2)
Arturs Kazijevs (SMU) def. Eric West (Oklahoma State) 7-5, 6-2
Gijs Linders (Michigan State) def. Rifat Biktyakov (Oklahoma State) 6-2, 6-2
