College Tennis News - University of Tulsa Advances To NCAA Second Round

NORMAN, Okla. - The No. 20-ranked University of Tulsa men's tennis team advanced to the NCAA Second Round with a 4-2 victory over No. 35 Minnesota Friday afternoon inside Gregg Wadley Indoor Tennis Pavilion.

The match was moved inside after rain in the Norman area made the outdoor courts unplayable.

The Golden Hurricane (19-8) quickly took the doubles point and won three of the five decisions in singles to eliminate the Golden Gophers (13-8).

"I knew it was going to be a close match once we went indoors because Minnesota is a great indoor team," Tulsa Head Coach Vince Westbrook said. "We played solid in doubles and got the job done in singles. We're happy to be moving into the second round, and now it's time to get ready for tomorrow's match."

Tulsa will face host and No. 10 Oklahoma in the second round at 2 p.m. May 12 in Norman. This is the third-straight year the two teams will be forced to eliminate one another. OU got the better of TU in the 2010 first round, while Tulsa returned the favor in last year's opening round.

TU will compete in the second round for the fourth time in the last five years. The Golden Hurricane reached the Round of 16 for the first time in school history last season.

The junior duo of Grant Ive and Tristan Jackson got TU started on a high note with an 8-6 victory over Leandro Toledo and Juan Pablo Ramirez on the second doubles court.

Sophomore Japie De Klerk and freshman Alejandro Espejo clinched the opening point of the match with an 8-6 triumph over Jack Hamburg and Phillip Arndt at the third flight.

The top singles match was halted with TU's No. 11-ranked duo of senior Ashley Watling and junior Clifford Marsland leading No. 34 Rok Bonin and Julian Dehn 7-5.

The Golden Gophers took the early momentum by capturing four of the six first sets in singles action, but TU was able to fight back and win the three courts necessary to survive and advance.

Minnesota drew even after Espejo was defeated by Hamburg 6-3, 6-2 on the sixth court to open singles play.

No. 117-ranked De Klerk gave TU a 2-1 advantage with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 win over Bonin at the top court. UM again equalized after No. 77 Watling fell 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 at the third flight to Arndt.

Ive and No. 97 Marsland closed the door on the Gophers with wins at the fourth and second positions, respectively. Ive topped Dehn 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, while Marsland clinched the win with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 upset over No. 87 Toledo.

Jackson and Mathieu Froment were just beginning a third set when the match was halted.

Tennis Match Results
May 11, 2012 at Norman, Okla.
(Gregg Wadley Indoor Tennis Pavilion)

#20 Tulsa 4, #35 Minnesota 2

Singles competition 1. #117 Japie De Klerk (TLS) def. Rok Bonin (MINN) 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 2. #97 Clifford Marsland (TLS) def. #87 Leandro Toledo (MINN) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 3. Phillip Arndt (MINN) def. #77 Ashley Watling (TLS) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 4. Grant Ive (TLS) def. Julian Dehn (MINN) 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 5. Tristan Jackson (TLS) vs. Mathieu Froment (MINN) 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 0-1, unfinished 6. Jack Hamburg (MINN) def. Alejandro Espejo (TLS) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles competition 1. #11 Ashley Watling/Clifford Marsland (TLS) vs. #34 Rok Bonin/Julian Dehn (MINN) 7-5, unfinished 2. Grant Ive/Tristan Jackson (TLS) def. Leandro Toledo/Juan Pablo Ramirez (MINN) 8-6 3. Japie De Klerk/Alejandro Espejo (TLS) def. Jack Hamburg/Phillip Arndt (MINN) 8-6

Match Notes: Minnesota 13-8; National ranking #35 Tulsa 19-8; National ranking #20 Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (6,1,3,4,2)