Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
USC
Cowboy Tennis Comes Up Short Against Top-Ranked Trojans
May 11, 2014 | Cowboy Tennis
May 11, 2014
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -
The No. 29 Oklahoma State men's tennis team saw its 2014 season come to an end on Sunday, as the Cowboys were defeated by No. 1 USC, 4-1, in the second round of the NCAA Championships at Marks Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif.
“I'm extremely proud of the way this team competed this season,” Cowboy Tennis coach Jay Udwadia said. “We put up a real strong fight against the No. 1 team in the country, and we've established a solid core this year that we can build on and take to even greater heights in the future.”
The Cowboys (22-8), playing the nation's No. 1 team for the first time since taking on top-ranked Baylor in 2006, provided a solid challenge for the Trojans despite losing the doubles point and falling by a three-point margin.
USC (28-3) grabbed the early lead with doubles wins on courts one and three, as Hanfmann/Sarmiento, the country's No. 1 doubles duo, handed Arjun Kadhe and Jakob Sude their second loss of the season. Sebastian Sachs and Lucas Gerch routed Farren/Quiroz, 8-2, at No. 2, but an 8-3 final on court three overwhelmed Brady Bohrnstedt and Matt Campbell, sealing the doubles point for USC.
“I really think we could have won the doubles point against those guys,” Udwadia said. “However, that's why they're considered one of the best teams in the country. They countered our early leads and capitalized on mistakes we made later on. Still, I'm proud of our team for bringing a strong level of competitiveness to the match today.”
The Trojans built on their early lead in singles play by taking the first set on four of six courts, but the Cowboys were the first to earn an individual victory. Nicolai Ferrigno recorded his second win of the tournament in a 6-2, 6-0 conquering of Connor Farren at No. 6.
Oklahoma State saw the Trojans regain the lead shortly after, as 42nd-ranked Robert Quiroz took down Kadhe at No. 3 singles, 6-2, 6-2. However, the Cowboys held serve with Trojans deep into the second set at Nos. 1 and 5, and saw their hopes of an upset extend when Gerch forced a third set on court four and Sude grabbed a set advantage at No. 2.
With the Cowboys holding leads at Nos. 2 and 4, USC was eventually able to close out the OSU threat and advance to the Sweet Sixteen. Eric Johnson held off Bohrnstedt with a 6-4, 6-4 success on court five, and 10th-ranked Yannick Hanfmann sealed the win by taking the final five games of a 6-1, 6-3 win over Sachs.
The Pokes end the dual match season with a 22-8 mark, the team's best since a 22-7 finish in 2005. Kadhe and Sude will continue their stellar 2014 doubles run, though, as the pair will head to Athens, Ga., on May 21 to compete in the NCAA Division 1 Doubles Championships. For more updates and information, follow @CowboyTennis on Twitter.
Complete Results
No. 1 USC 4, No 29. Oklahoma State 1
May 11, 2014 | Los Angeles, Calif. | Marks Tennis Center
Doubles
- #1 Hanfmann/Sarmiento (USC) def. #14 Kadhe/Sude (OSU) 8-5
- Gerch/Sachs (OSU) def. Farren/Quiroz (USC) 8-2
- de Vroome/Johnson (USC) def. Bohrnstedt/Campbell (OSU) 8-3
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3
Singles
- #10 Yannick Hanfmann (USC) def. #96 Sebastian Sachs (OSU) 6-1, 6-3
- #77 Jakob Sude (OSU) vs. #9 Ray Sarmiento (USC) 7-5, 2-3 uf.
- #42 Robert Quiroz (USC) def. #116 Arjun Kadhe (OSU) 6-2, 6-2
- Lucas Gerch (OSU) vs. #91 Max de Vroome (USC) 2-6, 6-3, 1-0 uf.
- Eric Johnson (USC) def. Brady Bohrnstedt (OSU) 6-4, 6-4
- Nicolai Ferrigno (OSU) def. Connor Farren (USC) 6-2, 6-0
Order of finish: 6, 3, 5, 2
