No. 57 Strode Notches Lone Win for the Razorbacks Against Tulsa

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 59 Razorback tennis fell to No. 24 Tulsa, 6-1, Thursday night but No. 57 Blake Strode found a huge win over No. 34 Will Gray in singles play.

The Hogs move to 5-5 overall while Tulsa boasts a 6-2 record. With tonight’s win, Strode now moves to 15-4 and 5-1 in dual matches.

Down quickly after losing the doubles point, Andrei Nicoara, playing at No. 2, fell first to Tulsa’s Federico Soriano, 6-1, 6-1. At No. 4, Dmitry Vlaskin was topped in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, by Ross Cunningham. In the third slot, No. 90 Ricardo Soriano defeated Razorback Gabriel Mattos, 7-5, 6-0. At No. 6, Jorge Villanueva fell to Andy Connelly, 6-4, 7-5.

Strode’s match was the fifth to finish as he took down No. 34 Will Gray, 6-4, 7-5. The St. Louis native now moves to 2-2 this season against ranked opponents. Dmitry Lebedev, at No. 6, fell to Diego Camacho, 6-2, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, in the final match of the evening.

Next up for the Razorbacks will be a trip to Fresno, Calif., to face Fresno State, Pacific University and Fresno-Pacific.

Arkansas vs. Tulsa

Feb. 15, 2007

Tulsa, Okla.

#24 Tulsa 6, #59 Arkansas 1

Singles competition

1. #57 Blake Strode (UA) def. #34 Will Gray (TLS) 6-4, 7-5

2. Federico Soriano (TLS) def. Andy Nicoara (UA) 6-1, 6-1

3. #90 Ricardo Soriano (TLS) def. Gabriel Mattos (UA) 7-5, 6-0

4. Ross Cunningham (TLS) def. Dmitry Vlaskin (UA) 6-2, 6-3

5. Diego Camacho (TLS) def. Dmitri Lebedev (UA) 6-2, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1

6. Andy Connelly (TLS) def. Jorge Villanueva (UA) 6-4, 7-5

Doubles competition

1. #12 Arnau Brugues/Federico Soriano (TLS) def. Bradwin Williams/Blake Strode (UA) 8-0

2. #8 Ross Cunningham/Diego Camacho (TLS) vs. Dmitry Vlaskin/Jorge Villanueva (UA) 4-4, unfinished

3. Andy Connelly/Lucques Maasdorp (TLS) def. Andy Nicoara/Gabriel Mattos (UA) 8-1

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (2,4,3,6,1,5)