Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Tennis Set To Host ITA Regional Championships
October 18, 2016 | Cowboy Tennis
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STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State men's tennis team continues its fall slate this week as the Cowboys compete at the Michael and Anne Greenwood Tennis Center for the first time this season when they host the ITA Central Region Championships, which begin on Thursday. This week's tournament marks the first time that OSU has hosted the Central Regional under head coach Jay Udwadia.
Cowboys In The Field
Oklahoma State will be one of several teams taking part in this year's ITA Central Region Championships. Among the Cowboys that will be participating in this week's tournament is the nation's No. 1-ranked doubles tandem of Julian Cash and Arjun Kadhe. The duo became the first doubles team in OSU history to earn the the top spot in the ITA Rankings on September 13.
On the singles side of the bracket, the Cowboys will field multiple competitors including Cash, who is currently ranked No. 29 by the ITA. Cash is also one of the highest-ranked returners in the ITA's Central Region as he finished last season as the fifth-ranked player in the central region. In total, the Cowboys had five players ranked inside the top-20 of the ITA's Central Region Rankings at the conclusion of last season.
Match Updates
For updates during matches, follow @CowboyTennis on Twitter and then check okstate.com for post-match results and a recap from the day's action. Fans can also watch all of this week's action via live stream at okstate.com/watchtennis. Results will also be posted on okstate.com throughout the day as well as on itatennis.com at the conclusion of each day.
Oklahoma State From a Distance
Oklahoma State returns seven upperclassmen from a season that saw the Cowboys host an NCAA Regional for the first time since 2007 and advance to the Round of 16 at the NCAA Tournament for the 10th time in program history. The Cowboys racked up 20 duals wins for the second time under head coach Jay Udwadia, with 12 of those victories coming against ranked competition.
The OSU roster is headlined by the top-ranked All-American duo of Julian Cash and Arjun Kadhe. The tandem won an impressive 34 matches last season, which is the most of any duo in OSU history. After advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Doubles Championship, the pair were honored as both NCAA and ITA All-Americans. The duo currently holds the top spot in the ITA Doubles Rankings, marking the first time that an Oklahoma State tandem has been ranked No. 1.
Also returning for the Cowboys are seniors Lucas Gerch and Nathan Roper, as well as juniors Lukas Finzelberg, Jurence Mendoza and Tristan Meraut. Gerch enters his senior campaign looking to solidify himself as one of OSU's best all-time players, while the remaining four returners all figure to be integral parts of OSU getting back to and making another deep run in the NCAA Tournament this year.
Head coach Jay Udwadia enters his fifth season in charge of the Cowboys and is likely to earn his 75th win as OSU's head coach early in the spring season.
Eyeing The Opponents
The ITA's Central Region is home to some of college tennis' most successful programs. Joining OSU in Stillwater this week will be competitors from Minnesota, Arkansas, Tulsa and three-time defending national runner-up Oklahoma among others. Along with competing against these schools' individuals, the Cowboys will also match up with with several of their Central Region foes during their spring slate of dual matches.
Notable Streaks and Trends
-The Cowboys have been ranked in the top-30 of the ITA Rankings for 22 consecutive weeks. The last time OSU was outside of the top 30 was May 1, 2015.
-The Cowboys have won at least 15 matches in each of the last three seasons under head coach Jay Udwadia. Twice during that stretch OSU has hit the 20-win mark, winning 22 in 2014 and 20 a season ago.
-Oklahoma State has had a doubles tandem earn All-America honors in each of the past three seasons. Last season it was Julian Cash and Arjun Kadhe achieving the feat, while Kadhe and Jakob Sude recorded the first two during the 2014 and 2015 NCAA Tournaments. Kadhe is the first OSU player to ever be named an All-American in doubles on three occasions.
-Since 2013, the Cowboys have made three-straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including advancing to the Round of 16 last season. That streak is the second-longest in program history, trailing only a seven-year streak from 2003-09 that saw the Cowboys reach the tournament in each season.
-Lukas Finzelberg is unbeaten in his last eight matches against opponents ranked outside of the ITA's top 20, with five of those victories coming against rankded competition.
Home, Sweet Home
In the three seasons since it first opened, the Michael and Anne Greenwood Tennis Center has provided an incredible home-court advantage to the Cowboys. During that time OSU has won a staggering 34 matches when playing in the confines of the Greenwood Tennis Center.
The Cowboys are slated to play 13 matches on their home courts this upcoming season. Fans will get the opportunity to see them in action quickly, with the first five dual matches scheduled to take part in Stillwater. That home lineup of matches also includes the 2017 ITA Kick-off Weekend event, which the Cowboys will host on January 27 -28.
Record Watch
-Arjun Kadhe's 70 career doubles wins currently put him in sixth place on the Cowboys' all-time list. After winning a team-record 34 matches with Julian Cash last season, Kadhe needs just 22 wins to tie Charlie Laster for the program record. The Pune, India native also holds 57 career singles wins, which puts him in prime position to break into the top 10.
-With 63 career singles wins, Lucas Gerch is currently in 10th place on the all-time list. If the German international matches last season's 22 wins, he would conclude his OSU career in fifth place.
-Julian Cash's record-setting 2015-16 season left him with 34 doubles wins as a Cowboy. If he and partner Arjun Kadhe were to replicate their success from last season, Cash would find himself in sixth place after his junior campaign.
-Arjun Kadhe currently sits with Oleksandr Nedovyesov and his former doubles partner Jakob Sude as the only three-time All-Americans in OSU history. With his senior campaign set to begin, Kadhe can become the first Cowboy to earn All-America honors on four occasions this year.
Fall Recap
The Cowboys have a packed 2016 fall season that includes some of collegiate tennis' toughest competition, which began with the fifth annual Silverado Resort and Spa's College Tennis Invitational in Napa, California. OSU sent four players, including freshman Mathieu Scaglia, to the event where the Cowboys compiled five teams wins. Scaglia was one of the bright spots for the Pokes as the Frejus, France native shined in his first collegiate singles action, going a perfect 3-0 during the event.
The Cowboys wrapped up their second event of the fall season when they competed in the John Breaux Cajun Tennis Classic. Lukas Finzelberg was one of the event's standouts as he won his first three matches of the season to advance to the semifinals at the event. The German's run marks the third straight year that a Cowboy has advanced to at least the quarterfinals at the tournament.
OSU saw all eight Cowboys on head coach Jay Udwadia's roster take part in the Saint Francis Health System ITA Men's All-American Championships last week. The Cowboys' top-ranked duo of Julian Cash and Arjun Kadhe, as well as Lukas Finzelberg, were standouts for OSU at the event. Cash and Kadhe knocked off three ranked foes to advance to the finals of the consolation bracket for the second straight year while Finzelberg too defeated three opponents that hold spots in the top-100 of the ITA Rankings as he advanced through qualifying play and ultimately to the Round of 32 in the main draw.
Cowboys In The ITA Rankings
The Oklahoma State duo of Julian Cash and Arjun Kadhe became the first doubles tandem in Oklahoma State history to hold the top spot in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Rankings after coming in at No. 1 in the September 13 edition of the ITA Rankings this season. Cash and Kadhe are both also ranked in singles play with Cash cracking the top-30 at No. 29 and Kadhe holding down the No. 87 spot.
Cash and Kadhe are joined by another OSU duo as Lucas Gerch and Jurence Mendoza are ranked No. 52 in the initial ITA Doubles Rankings. Gerch and Mendoza both also cracked the top 100 for their singles success, with Gerch coming in at No. 98 and Mendoza holding the spot ahead of him at No. 97.
Scaglia In The Spotlight
The 2016-17 version of the Cowboys is one loaded with experience, but the youngest member of the OSU roster, Mathieu Scaglia, has shown already that age is just a number. Rated as one of the top-10 junior players in his home country, the Frejus, France native was one of the bright spots for the Cowboys at the Silverado Invite in early September.
Scaglia rolled through his first collegiate competition as he picked up three-straight singles wins at the event. The Frenchman's talent is evident and he will have the opportunity to break into an OSU lineup that returns its entire team from last year's squad that advanced to the Round of 16 at the NCAA Tournament.
The Udwadia Effect
Since head coach Jay Udwadia took over the program in June of 2012, the Cowboys have seen a resurgence as they have begun to re-enter the national spotlight. OSU's 71 wins during Udwadia's tenure marks the most in a four-year stretch since the Cowboys won 76 from 2005-08.
Of those 71 wins, 31 have come against ranked competition, including eight wins over top-25 foes, as the Cowboys have routinely faced the toughest the nation has to offer during Udwadia's four years at the helm. This season the Pokes will again face one of the nation's toughest schedules as their 2016-17 slate includes 15 teams that earned NCAA Tournament bids a season ago.
Thriving In The Classroom
Oklahoma State men's tennis has been a fixture of academic success dating back to the first Academic All-Big 12 team in 1997. In each of the past 20 seasons, OSU has had a representative on the Academic All-Big 12 team every year and has had multiple Cowboys earn the honor on 18 occasions.
Under head coach Jay Udwadia, the Cowboys boast an impressive total of 17 Academic All-Big 12 selections and 11 ITA Scholar-Athletes. Senior Lucas Gerch added to OSU's list of academic achievement last season when he was awarded as the Big 12's Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State men's tennis team continues its fall slate this week as the Cowboys compete at the Michael and Anne Greenwood Tennis Center for the first time this season when they host the ITA Central Region Championships, which begin on Thursday. This week's tournament marks the first time that OSU has hosted the Central Regional under head coach Jay Udwadia.
Cowboys In The Field
Oklahoma State will be one of several teams taking part in this year's ITA Central Region Championships. Among the Cowboys that will be participating in this week's tournament is the nation's No. 1-ranked doubles tandem of Julian Cash and Arjun Kadhe. The duo became the first doubles team in OSU history to earn the the top spot in the ITA Rankings on September 13.
On the singles side of the bracket, the Cowboys will field multiple competitors including Cash, who is currently ranked No. 29 by the ITA. Cash is also one of the highest-ranked returners in the ITA's Central Region as he finished last season as the fifth-ranked player in the central region. In total, the Cowboys had five players ranked inside the top-20 of the ITA's Central Region Rankings at the conclusion of last season.
Match Updates
For updates during matches, follow @CowboyTennis on Twitter and then check okstate.com for post-match results and a recap from the day's action. Fans can also watch all of this week's action via live stream at okstate.com/watchtennis. Results will also be posted on okstate.com throughout the day as well as on itatennis.com at the conclusion of each day.
Oklahoma State From a Distance
Oklahoma State returns seven upperclassmen from a season that saw the Cowboys host an NCAA Regional for the first time since 2007 and advance to the Round of 16 at the NCAA Tournament for the 10th time in program history. The Cowboys racked up 20 duals wins for the second time under head coach Jay Udwadia, with 12 of those victories coming against ranked competition.
The OSU roster is headlined by the top-ranked All-American duo of Julian Cash and Arjun Kadhe. The tandem won an impressive 34 matches last season, which is the most of any duo in OSU history. After advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Doubles Championship, the pair were honored as both NCAA and ITA All-Americans. The duo currently holds the top spot in the ITA Doubles Rankings, marking the first time that an Oklahoma State tandem has been ranked No. 1.
Also returning for the Cowboys are seniors Lucas Gerch and Nathan Roper, as well as juniors Lukas Finzelberg, Jurence Mendoza and Tristan Meraut. Gerch enters his senior campaign looking to solidify himself as one of OSU's best all-time players, while the remaining four returners all figure to be integral parts of OSU getting back to and making another deep run in the NCAA Tournament this year.
Head coach Jay Udwadia enters his fifth season in charge of the Cowboys and is likely to earn his 75th win as OSU's head coach early in the spring season.
Eyeing The Opponents
The ITA's Central Region is home to some of college tennis' most successful programs. Joining OSU in Stillwater this week will be competitors from Minnesota, Arkansas, Tulsa and three-time defending national runner-up Oklahoma among others. Along with competing against these schools' individuals, the Cowboys will also match up with with several of their Central Region foes during their spring slate of dual matches.
Notable Streaks and Trends
-The Cowboys have been ranked in the top-30 of the ITA Rankings for 22 consecutive weeks. The last time OSU was outside of the top 30 was May 1, 2015.
-The Cowboys have won at least 15 matches in each of the last three seasons under head coach Jay Udwadia. Twice during that stretch OSU has hit the 20-win mark, winning 22 in 2014 and 20 a season ago.
-Oklahoma State has had a doubles tandem earn All-America honors in each of the past three seasons. Last season it was Julian Cash and Arjun Kadhe achieving the feat, while Kadhe and Jakob Sude recorded the first two during the 2014 and 2015 NCAA Tournaments. Kadhe is the first OSU player to ever be named an All-American in doubles on three occasions.
-Since 2013, the Cowboys have made three-straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including advancing to the Round of 16 last season. That streak is the second-longest in program history, trailing only a seven-year streak from 2003-09 that saw the Cowboys reach the tournament in each season.
-Lukas Finzelberg is unbeaten in his last eight matches against opponents ranked outside of the ITA's top 20, with five of those victories coming against rankded competition.
Home, Sweet Home
In the three seasons since it first opened, the Michael and Anne Greenwood Tennis Center has provided an incredible home-court advantage to the Cowboys. During that time OSU has won a staggering 34 matches when playing in the confines of the Greenwood Tennis Center.
The Cowboys are slated to play 13 matches on their home courts this upcoming season. Fans will get the opportunity to see them in action quickly, with the first five dual matches scheduled to take part in Stillwater. That home lineup of matches also includes the 2017 ITA Kick-off Weekend event, which the Cowboys will host on January 27 -28.
Record Watch
-Arjun Kadhe's 70 career doubles wins currently put him in sixth place on the Cowboys' all-time list. After winning a team-record 34 matches with Julian Cash last season, Kadhe needs just 22 wins to tie Charlie Laster for the program record. The Pune, India native also holds 57 career singles wins, which puts him in prime position to break into the top 10.
-With 63 career singles wins, Lucas Gerch is currently in 10th place on the all-time list. If the German international matches last season's 22 wins, he would conclude his OSU career in fifth place.
-Julian Cash's record-setting 2015-16 season left him with 34 doubles wins as a Cowboy. If he and partner Arjun Kadhe were to replicate their success from last season, Cash would find himself in sixth place after his junior campaign.
-Arjun Kadhe currently sits with Oleksandr Nedovyesov and his former doubles partner Jakob Sude as the only three-time All-Americans in OSU history. With his senior campaign set to begin, Kadhe can become the first Cowboy to earn All-America honors on four occasions this year.
Fall Recap
The Cowboys have a packed 2016 fall season that includes some of collegiate tennis' toughest competition, which began with the fifth annual Silverado Resort and Spa's College Tennis Invitational in Napa, California. OSU sent four players, including freshman Mathieu Scaglia, to the event where the Cowboys compiled five teams wins. Scaglia was one of the bright spots for the Pokes as the Frejus, France native shined in his first collegiate singles action, going a perfect 3-0 during the event.
The Cowboys wrapped up their second event of the fall season when they competed in the John Breaux Cajun Tennis Classic. Lukas Finzelberg was one of the event's standouts as he won his first three matches of the season to advance to the semifinals at the event. The German's run marks the third straight year that a Cowboy has advanced to at least the quarterfinals at the tournament.
OSU saw all eight Cowboys on head coach Jay Udwadia's roster take part in the Saint Francis Health System ITA Men's All-American Championships last week. The Cowboys' top-ranked duo of Julian Cash and Arjun Kadhe, as well as Lukas Finzelberg, were standouts for OSU at the event. Cash and Kadhe knocked off three ranked foes to advance to the finals of the consolation bracket for the second straight year while Finzelberg too defeated three opponents that hold spots in the top-100 of the ITA Rankings as he advanced through qualifying play and ultimately to the Round of 32 in the main draw.
Cowboys In The ITA Rankings
The Oklahoma State duo of Julian Cash and Arjun Kadhe became the first doubles tandem in Oklahoma State history to hold the top spot in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Rankings after coming in at No. 1 in the September 13 edition of the ITA Rankings this season. Cash and Kadhe are both also ranked in singles play with Cash cracking the top-30 at No. 29 and Kadhe holding down the No. 87 spot.
Cash and Kadhe are joined by another OSU duo as Lucas Gerch and Jurence Mendoza are ranked No. 52 in the initial ITA Doubles Rankings. Gerch and Mendoza both also cracked the top 100 for their singles success, with Gerch coming in at No. 98 and Mendoza holding the spot ahead of him at No. 97.
Scaglia In The Spotlight
The 2016-17 version of the Cowboys is one loaded with experience, but the youngest member of the OSU roster, Mathieu Scaglia, has shown already that age is just a number. Rated as one of the top-10 junior players in his home country, the Frejus, France native was one of the bright spots for the Cowboys at the Silverado Invite in early September.
Scaglia rolled through his first collegiate competition as he picked up three-straight singles wins at the event. The Frenchman's talent is evident and he will have the opportunity to break into an OSU lineup that returns its entire team from last year's squad that advanced to the Round of 16 at the NCAA Tournament.
The Udwadia Effect
Since head coach Jay Udwadia took over the program in June of 2012, the Cowboys have seen a resurgence as they have begun to re-enter the national spotlight. OSU's 71 wins during Udwadia's tenure marks the most in a four-year stretch since the Cowboys won 76 from 2005-08.
Of those 71 wins, 31 have come against ranked competition, including eight wins over top-25 foes, as the Cowboys have routinely faced the toughest the nation has to offer during Udwadia's four years at the helm. This season the Pokes will again face one of the nation's toughest schedules as their 2016-17 slate includes 15 teams that earned NCAA Tournament bids a season ago.
Thriving In The Classroom
Oklahoma State men's tennis has been a fixture of academic success dating back to the first Academic All-Big 12 team in 1997. In each of the past 20 seasons, OSU has had a representative on the Academic All-Big 12 team every year and has had multiple Cowboys earn the honor on 18 occasions.
Under head coach Jay Udwadia, the Cowboys boast an impressive total of 17 Academic All-Big 12 selections and 11 ITA Scholar-Athletes. Senior Lucas Gerch added to OSU's list of academic achievement last season when he was awarded as the Big 12's Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
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