Cowboys Grind Out Road Win Over Arkansas

Sunday, February 7

Fayetteville, AR

1:00 P.M.

Oklahoma State University

No. 64 Arkansas

February 07, 2016 | Cowboy Tennis

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The No. 17-ranked Oklahoma State men's tennis squad (8-1; 0-0 Big 12) got their third victory over a ranked opponent on the road Sunday, with a 4-1 victory over the No. 64 Arkansas Razorbacks (2-1; 0-0 SEC) at the Billingsley Tennis Center.

With the victory, the Cowboys have now defeated the Razorbacks eight-straight times and have taken the series lead over Arkansas (16-15). Also, the win marks the fourth consecutive victory over a ranked opponent for the Pokes.

"It was a great road win for our boys," coach Jay Udwadia said. "Arkansas will be a top-ranked program this year that will do well in the SEC season."

Oklahoma State continued its success in doubles play this season by stealing another doubles point from their opponent.

It was a tough start for No. 53 Lukas Finzelberg/Jurence Mendoza as they couldn't find their rhythm on court three and fell to Arkansas' Santiago Munoz/Johan den Toom, 6-3.

With the loss on three, Cowboy duos Julian Cash/Arjun Kadhe and Lucas Gerch/Temur Ismailov faced a tough challenge as they needed to win their matches to clinch the doubles point for the Pokes.

Good thing for Oklahoma State, they've been in this situation before and would step up to the plate. All-American duo Kadhe/Cash defeated Giammarco Micola/Mike Redlicki, 6-3, on court one.

Next, Gerch/Ismailov clinched yet another doubles point for the Cowboys with a victory on court two over Arkansas' Jose Salazar/Adam Sanjurjo, 6-4, to put the Pokes up 1-0 heading into singles.

In singles, the Cowboys started off slow as four OSU players dropped the first set in their respective matches, but Cash and Gerch kept some of the momentum in the Cowboys favor with first set wins.

OSU's Meraut would be the first to fall in singles with a straight-set loss to Razorback Sunjarjo, 4-6, 4-6. Luckily for the Pokes, the All-American Cash put the Cowboys back on top 2-1 with his sixth singles win of the year over Micolani, 6-3, 6-3.

With a 2-1 lead, Oklahoma State had the opportunity to close out the match as Kadhe and Finzelberg were dominating in the third set. Kadhe would push the lead to 3-1 with his hard-earned victory over Salazar, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Now one point away from securing the match, Finzelberg continued his role as the closer for the Pokes with an impressive 6-0 third set win to defeat den Toom, 5-7, 6-4, 6-0. The redshirt-sophomore has now clinched three matches for Oklahoma State this season.

Already having the win in hand, Arkansas' Redlicki would defeat Ismailov on court one, 3-6, 6-3, 5-7, but Gerch made sure not to end the match with a loss with his win over Munoz on court four, 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-4.

Up next for the Pokes in dual play is Georgia State on Feb. 19 at the Greenwood Tennis Center. The Cowboys match against the Panthers will start at 5 p.m. CT.

For everything Oklahoma State's men's tennis, follow @CowboyTennis on Instagram and Twitter.

No. 17 Oklahoma State def. No. 64 Arkansas, 5-2

Doubles | Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2

1. #9 Julian Cash/Arjun Kadhe (OSU) def. Giammarco Micolani/Mike Redlicki (AR) 6-3
2. Lucas Gerch/Temur Ismailov (OSU) def. Jose Salazar/Adam Sanjurjo (AR) 6-4
3. Santiago Munoz/Johan den Toom (AR) def. #53 Lukas Finzelberg/Jurence Mendoza (OSU) 6-3

Singles | Order of Finish: 5, 2, 3, 6, 1, 4
1. Mike Redlicki (AR) def. Temur Ismailov (OSU) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
2. #68 Julian Cash (OSU) def. Giammarco Micolani (AR) 6-3, 6-3
3. #112 Arjun Kadhe (OSU) def. Jose Salazar (AR) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
4. Lucas Gerch (OSU) def. Santiago Munoz (AR) 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-4
5. Adam Sanjurjo (AR) def. Tristan Meraut (OSU) 6-4, 6-4
6. Lukas Finzelberg (OSU) def. Johan den Toom (AR) 5-7, 6-4, 6-0