Hogs strong start in Tulsa
Tulsa, Okla.
-The University of Arkansas men’s tennis team started off strong at the 2009 Wilson/ITA Central Region Champions, in Tulsa, Okla. The Razorbacks boasted a 9-5 record to conclude the first day of matches in the main draw. Five Razorbacks Chris Nott, Matt Hogan, Matt Walters, Mike Ward and Dmitry Lebedev will see action on the court for the round of 32 in singles play tomorrow morning.
-The University of Arkansas men’s tennis team started off strong at the 2009 Wilson/ITA Central Region Champions, in Tulsa, Okla. The Razorbacks boasted a 9-5 record to conclude the first day of matches in the main draw. Five Razorbacks Chris Nott, Matt Hogan, Matt Walters, Mike Ward and Dmitry Lebedev will see action on the court for the round of 32 in singles play tomorrow morning.
“Overall I thought we played well today,” Arkansas head coach Robert Cox said. “ We played with a lot of heart despite some tough losses.”
No. 94 Chris Nott-ranked singles player beat first round opponent Milos Rimoc of Bradley, 6-1, 6-3. The momentum continued for Hogan and Lebedev as they breezed through the competition defeating James McKie of Drake, 6-3, 6-3, and Wichita St.’s Matheus Pereira, 6-0, 6-4. Fellow teammate Ward grinded the baseline with a win over Drake’s Guilherme Marsiglia,6-3, 6-4. Walters stormed the courts in the cold weather to pick up the final hog victory of the day over Chris Eriksson of SLU, 7-6(4), 6-2.
Other Arkansas matches of the day included Taylor King, who lost in a heartbreaking third set to Vlad Marinescu of Wichita St., 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(5). Fellow teammate Bradwin Williams fell in straight-sets, 7-5, 6-4, to SLU’s Jake Hendrei.
In doubles action, the hogs won three of the four in the round of 32 matches, including seniors Taylor King and Bradwin Williams win over Bradley’s Brock Reiman and Eric Nguyen, 8-0. The winning streak continued as the No. 43 ranked doubles team of Nott and Lebedev defeated Drew Freeman and Jamie Nolst Trenite of Nebraska, 8-6. Hogan and partner Walters defeated Nebraska’s Erik Sock and Francios Vanlmpe, 8-3.
In the second round of doubles, the tension built at Michael D. Case Tennis Center as Arkansas doubles teams Williams and Kings and Walters and Hogan took the courts. Williams and King fought hard but lost to St. Louis’ James McArthur and Ken Nordheim, 8-6. Razorback fans and players lined the glass to cheer on Hogan and Walters in a tough battle against Tulsa’s Philip Stephens and Ashley Watling, in a close tiebreaker. The Tulsa duo clinched the win, 9-8(7).
The only Arkansas doubles team to advance on Friday was Nott and Lebedev who defeated Wichita St.’s George Cavalcanti and Sven Kasper, 8-6. Nott and Lebedev will return to the courts for the quarterfinals at 9 a.m. to face Nordheim and McArthur of SLU.
“I am very proud of all of these guys and the intensity they brought to the court,” Cox said. “We had an impressive day and look forward to tomorrow’s matches. We are preparing for it to get tougher each round.”
On Saturday, the Hogs will be on the courts at the Michael D. Case Center at 11 a.m. for the main draw of singles, followed by the consolation singles. For complete men’s tennis coverage visit: www.ArkansasRazorbacks.com.
Day 2 Complete Results
SINGLES
Chris Nott (ARK) def. Milos Romic (BRAD) 6-1, 6-3
Mike Ward (ARK) def. Guilherme Marsiglia (Drake) 6-3, 6-4
Vlad Marinescu (Wichita St) def. Taylor King (ARK) 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(5)
Jake Hendrie (SLU) def. Bradwin Williams (ARK) 7-5, 6-4
Matt Walters (ARK) def. Chris Eriksson (SLU) 7-6(4), 6-2
Matt Hogan (ARK) def. James McKie (Drake) 6-3, 6-3
Dmitry Lebedev (ARK) def. Matheus Pereira (Wichita St.) 6-0, 6-4
DOUBLES
Nott/Lebedev (ARK) def. Freeman/Trenite (NEB) 8-6
King/Williams (ARK) def. Brock Reiman/Eric Nguyen (BRAD) 8-0
Matt Hogan/Matt Walters (ARK) def. Erik Sock/Francois Vanlmpe (NEB) 8-3
Serge Ristivjevic/ Gustav Guerin (UMKC) def. Ward/Spinnazze (ARK) 8-6
Nott/Lebedev (ARK) George Cavalcanti/Sven Kasper (Wichita St.) 8-6
Ken Nordheim/James McArthur (SLU) def. King/Williams (ARK) 8-6
Philip Stephens/Ashley Watling (Tulsa) def. Hogan/Walters (ARK) 9-8(7)
