Razorback Netters Split Saturday Matches
FRESNO, Calif. – Arkansas opened its doubleheader Saturday by blanking the University of the Pacific, 7-0, before closing the weekend by falling, 4-3, to Fresno-Pacific, Saturday night in Fresno, Calif.
The 61st-ranked Razorbacks (6-7) cruised past Pacific (0-5) Saturday afternoon, sweeping all matches in both doubles and singles.
The Hogs’ 15th-ranked doubles duo of Blake Strode and Colin Mascall earned a win at No. 1 doubles, 8-6, over the Tigers’ Moritz Starke and Vegard Vaskimagi. Freshmen Gabriel Mattos and Bradwin Williams teamed up for the first time this season and gained a win at No. 2 doubles, 8-5, over Alan Kelly and Pedro Toledo. Another pair of freshmen, Jorge Villanueva and Dmitry Vlaskin, notched a win at No. 3 doubles, 8-4, against Robert Price and Ahad Ebrahim.
In singles, the Hogs took five of the six matches in straight sets. Strode, ranked 72nd in the nation, took down Starke at No. 1, 7-6(2), 6-1. Mascall knocked off Vaskimagi, 6-4, 6-2, at No. 2. Williams, playing in just his second singles match, earned his first collegiate win by besting Kelly, 6-4, 6-2, at No. 3. Villanueva earned a point by defeating Toledo, 6-2, 6-4, on court four. Mattos beat Chase Oliphant, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, while Dmitry Lebedev ran past Price, 6-2, 6-1.
In the nightcap against Fresno-Pacific (4-1), the sixth-ranked team in NAIA, the Hogs took the doubles point again. Strode and Mascall cruised past the Sunbirds’ Matt Carroll and Anthony Zafiris, 8-2, and Mattos and Williams edged Marco Foelz and Victor Medina, 9-7, to clinch the point.
Strode and Mascall are now 11-2 on the season.
It was the first time this season the Razorbacks have won the doubles point and failed to win the dual match.
Strode opened singles play by breezing to a win at No. 1, 6-1, 6-2, over Carroll. After his perfect weekend, Strode improves to 18-4 and 9-1 in dual matches.
The Sunbirds would take the next four singles matches to upset the Razorbacks. Lebedev gained the other point for the Hogs, taking down Louis Taylor, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 6.
Arkansas opens Southeastern Conference play Friday when it travels to Athens, Ga. to battle the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs.
No. 61 Arkansas 7 – Pacific 0Fresno, Calif. – February 24Doubles:1. No. 15 Strode/Mascall (ARK) d. Starke/Vaskimagi (PAC): 8-62. Mattos/Williams (ARK) d. Kelly/Toledo (PAC): 8-53. Villanueva/Vlaskin (ARK) d. Price/Ebrahim (PAC): 8-4Singles:1. No. 72 Blake Strode (ARK) d. Moritz Starke (PAC): 7-6 (7-2), 6-12. Colin Mascall (ARK) d. Vegard Vaskimagi (PAC): 6-4, 6-23. Bradwin Williams (ARK) d. Alan Kelly (PAC): 6-4, 6-24. Jorge Villanueva (ARK) d. Pedro Toledo (PAC): 6-2, 6-45. Gabriel Mattos (ARK) d. Chase Oliphant (PAC): 7-5, 3-6, 7-66. Dmitry Lebvedev (ARK) d. Robert Price (PAC): 6-2, 6-1
Fresno-Pacific 4, No. 61 Arkansas 3
February 24, 2007
Haak Tennis Complex, Fresno, Calif.
Doubles
1. #15 Strode/Mascall (ARK) def. Carroll/Zafiris (FPU), 8-2
2. Mattos/Williams (ARK) def. Foelz/Medina (FPU), 9-7
3. Taylor/Bianco (FPU) def. Villanueva/Vlaskin (ARK), 9-8
Singles
1. #72 Blake Strode (ARK) def. Matt Carroll (FPU), 6-2, 6-1
2. Anthony Zafiris (FPU) def. Colin Mascall (ARK), 6-4, 6-2
3. Marco Foelz (FPU) def. Dmitry Vlaskin (ARK), 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
4. Roberto Bianco (FPU) def. Jorge Villanueva (ARK), 7-5, 6-2
5. Victor Medina (FPU) def. Bradwin Williams (ARK), 7-6, 7-5
6. Dmitry Lebedev (ARK) def. Louis Taylor (FPU), 5-7, 6-2. 6-1
