Ohio State University Team Page
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The fourth ranked Ohio State men’s tennis team will encounter its first road test of the season when it travels to College Station, Texas, where it will take on Texas A&M at 1 p.m. ET Sunday. The match will mark the Buckeyes’ second consecutive meeting vs. a Top 25 program in as many weeks. The Scarlet and Gray have had a successful campaign so far during this early portion of the season, entering the match with an 8-0 record, including a 3-0 record vs. ranked opponents.
Buckeyes vs. Aggies
Ohio State and Texas A&M have split the all-time series at three matches a piece. All of the Buckeyes’ wins vs. the Aggies have taken place in the last four years: 2009 (4-3), 2010 (4-3) and 2012 (6-1). The Scarlet and Gray’s lone lost during that time span came at the Mitchell Tennis Center in College Station, Texas, by a score of 4-0 and was one of only three losses by Ohio State during the 2011 season.
Aggies’ All-Stars
The Aggies have a doubles team ranked in the Top 10 of the ITA doubles poll. Harrison Adams and Shane Vinsant combine to make the sixth ranked doubles team. In singles, Jordan Szabo is the highest ranked player for Texas A&M at 87, while teammate Jeremy Efferding is 103. The matchup in doubles will mark the second Top 10 doubles opponent the Buckeyes will face this season. However, Ohio State was up to the challenge in its last match, with Peter Kobelt and Connor Smith defeating Georgia’s No. 5 duo of Ben Wagland and Hernus Pieters 8-3.
Top 25 Clash
Entering its second meeting of the season vs. a Top 25 team, Ohio State boasts a 104-47 (.688) record vs. Top 25 competition since 2000. The Buckeyes also own a 6-1 record vs. opponents that are ranked 15th in the country.
All About Stats
• With an 8-0 overall record, the Buckeyes own a 322-42 (.885) record as a Top 25 team since 2,000.
• Redshirt junior Peter Kobelt leads the Buckeyes in wins with 19.
• Senior Connor Smith paces Ohio State in dual victories with seven.
• Junior Blaz Rola, who made his debut vs. East Tennessee State Jan. 26, has the top dual record at No. 1 singles (3-0).
• In doubles action, the pair of Ille Van Engelen and Devin McCarthy is 6-0 overall and in dual play, a team best. The duo also is 4-0 at No. 1 doubles, which serves as a program high in 2013.
Record Attendance Fuels Winning Streak
The home winning streak for the Buckeyes is currently at 156 matches following the victory over No. 6 Georgia Feb. 3. The win came in front of a crowd of 505 people, the largest attendance for a home match this season.
Up Next
The Buckeyes will pack their bags for Seattle, Wash., where they will compete in the ITA National Team Indoor Championship Feb. 15.
