Thursday, March 6, 2008 , Updated
Men’s tennis: Oklahoma State 5, SMU 2
The men's tennis team faced blustery conditions Wednesday, winning two singles matches over No. 15 Oklahoma State in cold, windy weather. The Cowboys defeated the Mustangs, 5-2, dropping SMU to 9-5 on the season.
After the Cowboys secured the doubles point by winning at the second and third slots, the Mustangs saw some strong play in singles.
Robin Fahgen battled at No. 1, but dropped his match to 10th-ranked Oleksandr Nedovyesov, 6-3, 6-3. Newly-ranked David Kuczer fell to No. 31 Ivan Puchkarov at No. 2 singles, 6-2, 6-3.
Alex Skrypko tried to mount an SMU comeback at No. 3, taking his first win over a ranked opponent this season. Skyrpko defeated No. 94 Dmytro Petrov in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. Oivind Alver followed him with a lengthy battle at No. 4. Alver dropped his first set to Mark Kepler, 6-2, but rallied back to win the second set 6-5. In the decisive third set, Alver outlasted Kepler, 10-8, in the super tie breaker.
Nathan Byrnes cut SMU's rally short, however, defeating Chris Hooshyar at No. 5, 6-2, 6-3. Adham el-Effendi came close to pulling off a win at No. 6, winning the first set 7-6, over Anton Bobytskyi. Bobytskyi took the second set, 6-2, sending the match to a third set. El-Effendi fought hard, sending the match into extra points, but was eventually felled, 10-7.
"I was really proud of how we fought against a top team," said head coach Carl Neufeld. "Alex played great against adverse conditions, which was huge for us. His game is really coming back together. I'm excited about our progress. We need to get healthy. We're getting considerably better and now we just need to get everyone on the court."
The Mustangs are back in action Sunday, March 9 at 1pm as they host Texas-Pan American and Monday, March 10 at 1pm as they host No. 31 Indiana. Both matches will be held at the Bent Tree Country Club in Dallas (maps, directions).
No. 15 Oklahoma State (7-4) 5, No. 65 SMU (9-5) 2
DeBois Tennis Complex
Stillwater, Okla.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Singles
1. #10 Oleksandr Nedovyesov (OSU) def. #62 Robin Fahgen (SMU) 6-3, 6-3
2. #31 Ivan Puchkarov (OSU) def. #117 David Kuczer (SMU) 6-2, 6-3
3. Alex Skrypko (SMU) def. #94 Dmytro Petrov (OSU) 6-3, 6-2
4. Oivind Alver (SMU) def. Mark Kepler (OSU) 2-6, 6-5, 10-8
5. Nathan Byrnes (OSU) def. Chris Hooshyar (SMU) 6-2, 6-3
6. Anton Bobytskyi (OSU) def. Adham el-Effendi (SMU) 6-7, 6-2, 10-7
Doubles
1. #56 Nedovyesov/Byrnes (OSU) vs. Skrypko/Fahgen (SMU) 6-6 DNF
2. Puchkarov/Petrov (OSU) def. Kuczer/el-Effendi (SMU) 8-5
3. Bobytskyi/Kepler (OSU) def. Alver/Hooshyar (SMU) 8-4
Source: SMU
