Cowboy Tennis Sweeps Doubleheader Against UTRGV

Saturday, February 26

Stillwater, Okla.

11 a.m.

Oklahoma State University

UT Rio Grande Valley

February 26, 2022 | Cowboy Tennis

Stillwater, Okla. - Oklahoma State's men's tennis team swept its Saturday doubleheader against UTRGV, claiming a pair of 7-0 victories inside the Greenwood Tennis Center.

The victories pushed OSU to 6-5 on the season and extended the Cowboys' winning streak at home to four in a row. Head coach Dustin Taylor's squad also recorded its sixth and seventh consecutive doubles point victories after both meetings.

Notably, freshman Fran Pini highlighted the day after extending his undefeated singles record to 10-0 on the season while only losing one game on the day in his two matches.

Oklahoma State set the tone for the day after securing its sixth consecutive doubles point of the season. Leighton Allen and Fran Pini put on a show taking court three, 6-3, against Sam Whitehead and Chris Lawrance. The tandem of Alex Garcia and Max Verboven mirrored on their respective court to register a 6-3 triumph against Alberto Mello and Carlo Izurieta. When play was called, Seb Nothhaft and Joseph Chen were knotted on court one with Misha Kvantaliani and George Hutchings, 5-5.

The Cowboys were hot out of the gate in singles play. OSU's Leighton Allen and Fran Pini swept their opening sets, 6-0, on their respective courts.

Pini dominated on court five, only dropping one game in his first meeting against UTRGV's Te Kani Williams, 6-0, 6-1.

Next up, Leighton Allen extended OSU's lead, winning six games in a row to win his opening set and down Sam Whitehead, 6-0, 6-2. Alex Garcia kept the momentum going on court one, rolling to a 6-2, 6-2 straight-set victory against Misha Kvantaliani to mark OSU's third consecutive singles point on the day.

With the match already clinched, the Cowboys and Vaqueros played out on the remaining courts. Max Verboven followed suit, defeating George Hutchings, 6-3, 6-4, to tally another Cowboy point. On court two, Seb Nothhaft came out swinging, securing his opening set, 6-2. The junior closed with a hard-fought second set against Carlo Izurieta, 7-6(2).

Sophomore Joseph Chen recorded his first singles career win as a Cowboy on court six. Although dropping his opening set, Chen rallied to close out the match, 2-6, 6-4, 10-7.

In the second matchup of the day, the Cowboys picked up right where they left off. Joseph Chen and Seb Nothhaft led the way in doubles play, quickly closing out Alberto Mello and Carlo Izurieta, 6-3. One court over, Max Verboven and Alex Garcia rode the momentum to secure court three against Chris Lawrance and Michael Davis, 6-3. Leighton Allen and Fran Pini were leading on court two when the point was decided against Misha Kvantaliani and George Hutchings, 5-2.

Singles play fell like dominoes with each court finishing right after one another.

Fran Pini led an impressive shutout on court five and cruised past UTRGV's Alberto Mello, 6-0, 6-0, to secure his tenth win of the season.

The momentum carried to court three when Alex Garcia dominated in straight-sets, 6-2, 6-2, against Carlo Izurieta. Leighton Allen wasted no time against Te Kani Williams, rolling to a 6-0, 6-1 victory on court four.

Although the match was decided, the remaining courts played out.

Up next, Seb Nothhaft cruised and controlled George Hutchings the entirety of the match, 6-4, 6-2. Joseph Chen followed suit, dominating court six against Chris Lawrance in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.

Tyler Zink fought hard on court one to seal the deal against Misha Kvantaliani, 4-6, 7-6(6), 1-0(3), to complete the second 7-0 sweep.

The Cowboys will be back in action on Friday at 5 p.m. as they play host to Omaha.

Match One:
Singles Competition:

1. Alex Garcia (OSU) def. Misha Kvantaliani (UTRGV) 6-2, 6-2
2. Seb Nothhaft (OSU) def. Carlo Izurieta (UTRGV) 6-3, 7-6 (7-2)
3. Max Verboven (OSU) def. George Hutchings (UTRGV) 6-3, 6-4
4. Leighton Allen (OSU) def. Sam Whitehead (UTRGV) 6-0, 6-2
5. Fran Pini (OSU) def. Te Kani Williams (UTRGV) 6-0, 6-1
6. Joseph Chen (OSU) def. Alberto Mello (UTRGV) 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-7)

Doubles Competition:
1. Joseph Chen/Seb Nothhaft (OSU) vs. Misha Kvantaliani/George Hutchings (UTRGV) 5-5, unfinished
2. Alex Garcia/Max Verboven (OSU) def. Alberto Mello/Carlo Izurieta (UTRGV) 6-3
3. Leighton Allen/Fran Pini (OSU) def. Sam Whitehead/Chris Lawrance (UTRGV) 6-3
Match Notes: Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (5,4,1,3,2,6)

Match Two:

Singles Competition:
1. Tyler Zink (OSU) def. Misha Kvantaliani (UTRGV) 4-6, 7-6 (7-6), 1-0 (10-3)
2. Seb Nothhaft (OSU) def. George Hutchings (UTRGV) 6-4, 6-2
3. Alex Garcia (OSU) def. Carlo Izurieta (UTRGV) 6-2, 6-2
4. Leighton Allen (OSU) def. Te Kani Williams (UTRGV) 6-0, 6-1
5. Fran Pini (OSU) def. Alberto Mello (UTRGV) 6-0, 6-0
6. Joseph Chen (OSU) def. Chris Lawrance (UTRGV) 6-3, 6-3

Doubles Competition:
1. Joseph Chen/Seb Nothhaft (OSU) def. Alberto Mello/Carlo Izurieta (UTRGV) 6-3
2. Leighton Allen/Fran Pini (OSU) vs. Misha Kvantaliani/George Hutchings (UTRGV) 5-2, unfinished
3. Max Verboven/Alex Garcia (OSU) def. Chris Lawrance/Michael Davis (UTRGV) 6-3 Match Notes: Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (5,3,4,2,6,1)