Hogs sweep doubleheader with UMKC ORU

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 44 University of Arkansas men’s tennis team enjoyed a strong day on the courts at the George M. Billingsley Tennis Center Sunday, sweeping UMKC (6-5) and Oral Roberts (1-6) in a regional doubleheader. The Razorbacks (9-7, 1-3) downed both the Kangaroos and Golden Eagles by the score of 7-0.

“It was a good day for us,” head Razorback coach Robert Cox said. “It was a long day and I’m very proud of the way the guys played. It was a team effort in both matches. Now we have to refocus and get ready to head back into SEC play.”

The Hogs won each of their six doubles matches and all 12 singles matches, not dropping a set against either regional foe. With the wins, Arkansas improves to 9-0 when it takes a 1-0 lead into singles play.

Sophomore Chris Nott became the first Hog to reach 20 singles wins on the season, locking up his 10th and 11th dual victories both a No. 1 singles.

Nott clinched the Razorbacks’ victory over UMKC, beating Bret Berryman in the morning match, winning in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. Showing no sign of slowing down in his evening match with Alex Kotsuik of Oral Roberts, Nott won again easily, 6-2, 6-3.

Also posting two wins on the day were junior Bradwin Williams and freshman Nikolas Zogaj.

Williams, who played both his matches at No. 4 singles, defeating UMKC’s Nick Hays, 6-2, 6-3 and Andrey Savin of Oral Roberts, 6-0, 6-1. Zogaj played his matches at the No. 3 position, coming away with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Gustavo Guerin of UMKC and pulling out a hard-fought victory over Oral Roberts’ Dario Beslic, 6-4, 7-6(5).

Hogs Connor Smith, Nick Spinazze and Matt Walters all picked up their second wins of the dual season. Spinazze played at No. 6 singles against UMKC while Smith and Walters made their appearances against Oral Roberts at No. 6 and No. 5 singles, respectively.

“We did well, getting so many people on the court today,” Cox said. “Not only did we get a lot of the players involved but they all played well too.”

On Friday, the Hogs are in Knoxville, Tenn. to face the Vols at 1 p.m. For more information and for complete coverage of Arkansas men’s tennis, log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

#44 Arkansas 7, UMKC 0March 22, 2009Fayetteville, Ark.Singles1. Chris Nott (UA) def. Bret Berryman (UMKC), 6-4, 6-32. Dmitry Lebedev (UA) def. Patrick Smith (UMKC), 6-2, 6-23. Nikolas Zogaj (UA) def. Gustavo Guerin (UMKC), 6-2, 6-34. Bradwin Williams (UA) def. Nick Hays (UMKC), 6-2, 6-35. Tyler Tarnasky (UA) def. Dennis Schwarz (UMKC), 6-2, 6-16. Nick Spinazze (UA) def. Erwin Quintanilla (UMKC), 6-3, 6-0

Doubles1. #46 Chris Nott/Dmitry Lebedev (UA) def. Patrick Smith/Bret Berryman (UMKC), 8-62. Tyler Tarnasky/Bradwin Williams (UA) def. Gustavo Guerin/Nick Hays (UMKC), 8-23. Taylor King/Matt Walters (UA) def. Erwin Quintanilla/Dennis Schwarz (UMKC), 8-3

Order of Finish:Doubles: 3, 2*, 1Singles: 6, 4, 1*, 3, 2, 5

#44 Arkansas 7, Oral Roberts 0March 22, 2009Fayetteville, Ark.Singles1. Chris Nott (UA) def. Alex Kotsuik (ORU), 6-2, 6-32. Dmitry Lebedev (UA) def. Dmitry Suslov (ORU), 6-1, 6-13. Nikolas Zogaj (UA) def. Dario Beslic (ORU), 6-4, 7-6(5)4. Bradwin Williams (UA) def. Andrey Savin (ORU), 6-0, 6-15. Matt Walters (UA) def. Peter Sullivan (ORU), 6-4, 6-06. Connor Smith (UA) def. Carlos Salazar (ORU), 6-2, 6-2

Doubles1. #46 Chris Nott/Dmitry Lebedev (UA) def. Oleksandr Kotsuik/Dmitry Suslov (ORU), 8-7(5)2. Tyler Tarnasky/Bradwin Williams (UA) def. Andrey Savin/Dario Beslic (ORU), 8-13. Taylor King/Nick Spinazze (UA) def. Carlos Salazar/Peter Sullivan (ORU), 8-2

Order of Finish:Doubles: 3, 2*, 1Singles: 6, 1, 4*, 5, 2, 3