Oklahoma State tops Hogs 4-1

TULSA, Okla. – The No. 34 Oklahoma State Cowboys handed the No. 53 University of Arkansas men’s tennis team its fourth straight loss on Wednesday night, a 4-1 decision, at the Michael D. Case Center in Tulsa, Okla. The Razorbacks (6-6, 0-2), have failed to secure the doubles point in each of their six losses this spring, as senior Blake Strode and partner Matt Hogan, the No. 60 doubles team in the country, fell, 8-5, to the No. 31 duo Oleksandr Nedovyesov and Nathan Byrnes at No. 1 doubles and Hogs Tyler Tarnasky and Bradwin Williams lost at the No. 3 position to Anton Bobytskyi and Aleksey Bessonov, also by the score of 8-5.

Things would not get better for the Hogs on the singles court against the Cowboys, who move to 6-1 on the season with their win over Arkansas. Williams, playing at No. 6 singles was the first Arkansas player to fall, dropping his match to Igor Sobolta, 6-1, 6-3. Tarnasky followed with a 6-1, 6-0, loss to Bobytskyi.

Sophomore Hogan looked strong against Mikhail Trukshanin, picking up Arkansas’ only win of the night, a 6-3, 6-1 decision over OSU’s No. 2 singles player.

The nation’s No. 5, Nedovyesov, clinched the match for Oklahoma State, beating No. 15 Strode in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.

At the time of OSU’s clinching victory, Chris Nott was a game away from his ninth dual win of the season, leading Byrnes, 7-5, 5-2. Junior Dmitry Lebedev was on Court 4 when play was suspended, trailing Bessonov, 7-6(4), 5-1.

The Hogs will be back in action on Friday in Lexington, Ky. where they will face the No. 21 Wildcats at 3 p.m. For more information and for complete coverage of Arkansas men’s tennis, log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

#34 Oklahoma State 4, #53 Arkansas 1March 11, 2009Tulsa, Okla.Singles1. #15 Oleksandr Nedovyesov (OSU) def. #15 Blake Strode (UA), 6-2, 6-42. #120 Matt Hogan (UA) def. Mikhail Trukshanin (OSU), 6-3, 6-13. Chris Nott (UA) led Nathan Byrnes (OSU), 7-5, 5-2, susp.4. Aleksey Bessonov (OSU) led Dmitry Lebedev (UA), 7-6(4), 5-1, susp.5. Anton Bobytskyi (OSU) def. Tyler Tarnasky (UA), 6-1, 6-06. Igor Sobolta (OSU) def. Bradwin Williams (UA), 6-1, 6-3

Doubles1. #31 Oleksandr Nedovyesov/Nathan Byrnes (OSU) def. #60 Blake Strode/Matt Hogan (UA), 8-52. Chris Nott/Dmitry Levedev (UA) led Igor Sobolta/Mikhail Trukshanin (OSU), 7-63. Anton Bobytskyi/Aleksey Bessonov (OSU) def. Tyler Tarnasky/Bradwin Williams (UA), 8-5

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