Upset Bid Falls Short As TU Drops 4-3 Decision to No. 19 California
TULSA, Okla. – The No. 35-ranked University of Tulsa men’s tennis
team recorded three victories over nationally ranked opponents in a
4-3 loss to No. 19-ranked University of California Thursday night at
Case Tennis Center.
The Golden Hurricane won the doubles point on the strength of two
massive upsets from the top two doubles pairs.
Junior Ashley Watling and sophomore Clifford Marsland, the No. 22-
ranked doubles tandem in the nation, secured the doubles point when
they defeated No. 13 Nick Andrews and Christoffer Konigsfeldt 9-8 (7-4).
Unranked sophomores Alastair Barnes and Grant Ive pulled a huge 8-3
upset over the No. 17-ranked doubles duo in the of Carlos Cueto
and Jonathan Dahan.
Junior Rusty Turpin and freshman Japie De Klerk were defeated by Ben
McLachlan and Pedro Zerbini 8-3.
Singles action started poorly for TU when the home team fell behind
in all six first sets across the board.
The Golden Hurricane never quit, however, and was able to battle back
in nearly every match. Watling, the No. 89-ranked singles player in
the nation, was able to upset No. 59 Cueto 7-5, 6-4. De Klerk found
himself in a heated battle with McLachlan, but it was the TU rookie
who was able to capture the 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-4 victory.
Unfortunately for Tulsa, the Golden Bears would steal the remaining
four singles matches.
No. 96-ranked Marsland was upset by Zerbini 6-4, 6-4, and Barnes lost
to No. 50 Konigsfeldt 6-1, 6-1. Ive and fellow sophomore Tristan
Jackson both won their respective second sets to push their matches
to a decisive third set, but neither player could capture the fourth
and final point for the home side.
Ive lost to Andrews 6-1, 4-6, 7-5, and Jackson fell to No. 120-ranked
Riki McLachlan 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 7-5.
Next up for Tulsa will be yet another tough home match, as the Golden
Hurricane are set to play host to No. 5 Texas at noon Jan. 16.
California and Texas will also face off at Case Tennis Center at noon
Jan. 15.
Tennis Match Results
#19 California vs #35 Tulsa
Jan 13, 2011 at Tulsa, Okla.
(Case Tennis Center)
#19 California 4, #35 Tulsa 3
Singles competition
1. Pedro Zerbini () def. #96 Clifford Marsland () 6-4, 6-4
2. #89 Ashley Watling () def. #59 Carlos Cueto () 7-5, 6-4
3. #50 Christoffer Konigsfe () def. Alastair Barnes () 6-1, 6-1
4. Nick Andrews () def. Grant Ive () 6-1, 4-6, 7-5
5. #120 Riki McLachlan () def. Tristan Jackson () 6-3, 6-7
(6-8), 7-5
6. Japie De Klerk () def. Ben McLachlan () 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. #22 Ashley Watling/Clifford Marsland () def. #13 Nick Andrews/
Christoffer Konigsfe () 9-8 (7-4)
2. Alastair Barnes/Grant Ive () def. #17 Carlos Cueto/Jonathan
Dahan () 8-3
3. Ben McLachlan/Pedro Zerbini () def. Rusty Turpin/Japie De Klerk
() 8-3
Match Notes:
California 0-0; National ranking #19
Tulsa 2-0; National ranking #35
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,1,2,4,6,5)
Updated 01-14-2011
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