Cowboy Tennis Set to Host Lamar and Bryant

Match Notes
The Basics

Oklahoma State's men's tennis team (0-0 overall; 0-0 Big 12) is set for a doubleheader home-opener on Friday with the Cowboys hosting non-conference opponents Lamar and Bryant. The Cowboys and Cardinals will square off at 1 p.m. (CST) before taking on the Bulldogs at 5 p.m. (CST) at Greenwood Tennis Center in Stillwater.

Following the Action

Friday's matches against Lamar and Bryant can be viewed at this link: Cowboy Tennis vs Lamar Cams - Oklahoma State University Athletics (okstate.com) and Cowboy Tennis vs Bryant Cams - Oklahoma State University Athletics (okstate.com). Fans can also follow along with live stats at okstate.statbroadcast.com.

In the Rankings

Oklahoma State is not ranked in the ITA Division I Rankings. Lamar and Bryant are also unranked. Junior Tyler Zink was featured in the ITA preseason rankings at No. 30 as of September 8th.

Series History

Oklahoma State holds an 8-0 record against the Cardinals in Stillwater. OSU also holds a 3-0 all-time record against Bryant and is undefeated in Stillwater. The last time OSU played Lamar and Bryant dates back to the 2019-20 season, when the Cowboys swept Lamar, 7-0, and defeated Bryant, 7-0. This will be the third time in the program's history where OSU will be opening the season with a double-header against Lamar and Bryant.

Oklahoma State from a Distance

Oklahoma State is battle-ready as they open its spring slate with a competitive schedule full of opportunities for the new class of Cowboys. OSU made program history for the 2021-22 season and began a chapter like no other with nine new faces and one veteran that fill the roster. Luke Hammond highlights the new season as the only returner from the 2020-21 season. Hammond leads a class of three freshmen, four sophomores and two juniors. Notably, six of the new faces head coach Dustin Taylor recruited are transfers from Power Five schools.

The biggest storyline has been Tyler Zink who earned a main draw wild card at the U.S. Open. The two-time All-American finished the 2021 season with a final ITA ranking of No. 8 in doubles at the University of Georgia. Zink also had a run in the ITA All-American Championships as well as individual tournaments throughout his fall campaign. The junior also found himself ranked among the nation's best by the ITA Preseason ranking at No. 30.

Accompanied by Taylor is assistant coach Dane Webb. During his collegiate career at the University of Oklahoma, Webb was a three-time All-American, and the most decorated Sooner in the program with a total of 212 during his run. The tandem holds skill that will lead the program to navigate a successful spring.

Streaks and Trends

• OSU is 8-0 against Lamar, dating back to 1965.

• OSU is 3-0 against Bryant, dating back to 2016.

• OSU hasn't lost to either team in program history.

An Oklahoma State Win Would...

• Start head coach Dustin Taylor 2-0 for his first season at OSU.

• Make it 9-0 all-time vs. Lamar.

• Make it 4-0 all-time vs. Bryant.

• Make OSU all-time 8-0 record for home-openers

• Make OSU 3-0 all-time in double-header home-openers vs. Lamar and Bryant.

Oklahoma State Head Coach Dustin Taylor

In his first year as head coach at Oklahoma State, Dustin Taylor brings an impressive pedigree to the program. Taylor served as associate head coach at the University of Virginia from 2014-17, where he was a part of three consecutive NCAA team championships, an ITA national indoor championship and two NCAA singles champions in his three seasons in Charlottesville.

After his time at Virginia and before arriving at OSU, he was a lead national coach for U.S. Tennis, helping top Americans Denis Kudla and Tim Smyczek break into the top 100 in the world rankings.

From 2010-14, he served his first term as a national coach, overseeing top junior and collegiate players in their transition to the professional ranks. Included on the list of top 100-ranked players he worked with during that time are Steve Johnson, Tennys Sandgren, Bradley Klahn, Marcos Giron and more.

Taylor played collegiately at the University of Tulsa, where he was an All-American and NCAA quarterfinalist in 2003 and the Farnsworth Senior Player of the Year in 2004. A four-time All-Western Athletic Conference honoree, Taylor earned WAC player of the week honors seven times, a mark that set the record for all sports.