Oklahoma State University Athletics

Cowboy Tennis Completes Comeback Against No. 11 Illinois
March 16, 2024 | Cowboy Tennis
Box Score (PDF)
STILLWATER – Down 2-0, the 31st ranked Oklahoma State men's tennis team came back to down No. 11 Illinois, 4-2, on Saturday at the Greenwood Tennis Center.
With the win, OSU improved to 13-4 and dropped its second top-15 team of the season.
Starting with doubles, Illinois' Kenta Miyoshi and Mathis Debru beat Goran Zgola and Francisco Pini, 6-0. The country's third-ranked doubles pairing Hunter Heck and Karlis Ozolins defeated OSU's Alessio Basile and Isaac Becroft, 6-4, to clinch the doubles point.
The court one match featuring Tyler Zink and Alex Garcia went unfinished against Illinois' #57 Lucas Horve and Oliver Okonkwo.
Needing four points, OSU responded, collecting four first sets on courts one, two, four and six.
Illinois extended its lead when Okonkwo beat Basile, 6-1, 6-4, on court five.
The Cowboys were quick to answer when No. 26 Zink bested No. 39 Heck, 6-3, 6-1. Zink garnered his 12th win on the season and fourth victory over a ranked opponent.
Schiessl rode the momentum, beating the second ranked player in his young career. The German took down No. 55 Miyoshi, 6-4, 6-4. Eight of his 10 victories have come in straight-set fashion.
Tied at two apiece, Pini come out victorious over Jeremy Zhang, 6-4, 6-3, to give the Cowboys their first lead of the match.
Becroft clinched the match for the Pokes, winning a deuce point to solidify the third set.
He won 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-3.
Garcia's match with Alex Petrov went unfinished in the third set, with Garcia holding a slight 2-1 advantage.
The Pokes will hit the road to take on BYU on Thursday at 5 p.m. CT, before traveling to Lubbock, Texas, to face Texas Tech on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT.
For season-long coverage of Oklahoma State men's tennis, visit okstate.edu and follow @CowboyTennis on social media.
No. 31 Oklahoma State 4, No. 11 Illinois 2
Singles competition
1. No. 26 Tyler Zink (OSU) def. No. 39 Hunter Heck (ILL) 6-3, 6-1
2. Isaac Becroft (OSU) def. No. 30 Karlis Ozolins (ILL) 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-3
3. No. 62 Alex Garcia (OSU) vs. Alex Petrov (ILL) 3-6, 7-5, 2-1 (unf.)
4. Erik Schiessl (OSU) def. No. 55 Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) 6-4, 6-4
5. Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) def. Alessio Basile (OSU) 6-1, 6-4
6. Francisco Pini (OSU) def. Jeremy Zhang (ILL) 6-4, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Tyler Zink/Alex Garcia (OSU) vs. No. 57 Lucas Horve/Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) 3-5 (unf.)
2. No. 3 Hunter Heck/Karlis Ozolins (ILL) def. Isaac Becroft/Alessio Basile (OSU) 4-6
3. Kenta Miyoshi/Mathis Debru (ILL) def. Goran Zgola/Francisco Pini (OSU) 0-6
Order of finish:
Doubles (3,2); Singles (5,1,4,6,2)
STILLWATER – Down 2-0, the 31st ranked Oklahoma State men's tennis team came back to down No. 11 Illinois, 4-2, on Saturday at the Greenwood Tennis Center.
With the win, OSU improved to 13-4 and dropped its second top-15 team of the season.
Starting with doubles, Illinois' Kenta Miyoshi and Mathis Debru beat Goran Zgola and Francisco Pini, 6-0. The country's third-ranked doubles pairing Hunter Heck and Karlis Ozolins defeated OSU's Alessio Basile and Isaac Becroft, 6-4, to clinch the doubles point.
The court one match featuring Tyler Zink and Alex Garcia went unfinished against Illinois' #57 Lucas Horve and Oliver Okonkwo.
Needing four points, OSU responded, collecting four first sets on courts one, two, four and six.
Illinois extended its lead when Okonkwo beat Basile, 6-1, 6-4, on court five.
The Cowboys were quick to answer when No. 26 Zink bested No. 39 Heck, 6-3, 6-1. Zink garnered his 12th win on the season and fourth victory over a ranked opponent.
Schiessl rode the momentum, beating the second ranked player in his young career. The German took down No. 55 Miyoshi, 6-4, 6-4. Eight of his 10 victories have come in straight-set fashion.
Tied at two apiece, Pini come out victorious over Jeremy Zhang, 6-4, 6-3, to give the Cowboys their first lead of the match.
Becroft clinched the match for the Pokes, winning a deuce point to solidify the third set.
He won 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-3.
Garcia's match with Alex Petrov went unfinished in the third set, with Garcia holding a slight 2-1 advantage.
The Pokes will hit the road to take on BYU on Thursday at 5 p.m. CT, before traveling to Lubbock, Texas, to face Texas Tech on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT.
For season-long coverage of Oklahoma State men's tennis, visit okstate.edu and follow @CowboyTennis on social media.
No. 31 Oklahoma State 4, No. 11 Illinois 2
Singles competition
1. No. 26 Tyler Zink (OSU) def. No. 39 Hunter Heck (ILL) 6-3, 6-1
2. Isaac Becroft (OSU) def. No. 30 Karlis Ozolins (ILL) 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-3
3. No. 62 Alex Garcia (OSU) vs. Alex Petrov (ILL) 3-6, 7-5, 2-1 (unf.)
4. Erik Schiessl (OSU) def. No. 55 Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) 6-4, 6-4
5. Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) def. Alessio Basile (OSU) 6-1, 6-4
6. Francisco Pini (OSU) def. Jeremy Zhang (ILL) 6-4, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Tyler Zink/Alex Garcia (OSU) vs. No. 57 Lucas Horve/Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) 3-5 (unf.)
2. No. 3 Hunter Heck/Karlis Ozolins (ILL) def. Isaac Becroft/Alessio Basile (OSU) 4-6
3. Kenta Miyoshi/Mathis Debru (ILL) def. Goran Zgola/Francisco Pini (OSU) 0-6
Order of finish:
Doubles (3,2); Singles (5,1,4,6,2)
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