Oklahoma State University Athletics
Friday, March 10
Stillwater, Okla.
3:30 P.M.
Oklahoma State University
4
vs
3
Memphis
Gerch Caps Cowboys' Comeback Win Over No. 26 Memphis
March 10, 2017 | Cowboy Tennis
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State tennis' Lucas Gerch recorded a three-set comeback victory on court two to secure the fourth-ranked Cowboys' 4-3 comeback win over No. 26 Memphis on Friday at the Michael and Anne Greenwood Tennis Center. OSU's victory marks the seventh time this season the Cowboys (12-3; 0-0 Big 12) have defeated a top-30 opponent.
"If you have to have someone last on, you want a senior and Lucas (Gerch) has been there plenty of times before," head coach Jay Udwadia said. "We have a lot of confidence in him, and in all our guys, because we've been there before and things worked out for us in the end."
Gerch's win had plenty of entertainment value from the start, as he went back and forth with Andrew Watson, ranked No. 78 in the nation, in the first set before Watson ultimately claimed the set in a tight tiebreak.
Gerch, the final Cowboy to finish his match on Friday, found himself down a break, 4-2, to the Tiger in the pivotal second set. The left-hander then made a slight adjustment to his strategy and showcased his grit, winning five of the next six games to earn split sets with Watson.
In the decisive third, Gerch immediately took control by picking up an early break point to go up 3-1 on Watson. The senior then continued his impressive form as he put away the set and sealed the Cowboys' 12th win of the season, 6-7 (8), 7-5, 6-3. In total, Gerch won 11 of the final 15 games to secure his 75th career singles win.
"He's been down 5-0 in the third set in the last match on before, so you can never count Gerch out," Udwadia said. "We were tied in the match and conditions were a little tough out there today, but we were at home and Gerch is very mentally strong and he was able to get us the win."
The Cowboys' comeback victory was made even more impressive after OSU dropped the doubles point for just the third time this season. Needing to win four of the six singles contests to win their fourth-straight match, Oklahoma State got wins from Gerch, as well as Arjun Kadhe, Julian Cash and Tristan Meraut to seal the win on Friday.
Kadhe, now ranked a career-best No. 54 in the nation, was the first to put OSU on the board and earning his team-high 14th singles win of the season in a 6-4, 6-2, victory over Chris Patzanovsky. His doubles partner Julian Cash was quick to follow suit, as the right-hander defeated Memphis' Ryan Peniston, 6-4, 6-4. Cash and Kadhe's victories leveled the match at 2-2 for OSU and brought the Greenwood Tennis Center crowd to its feet.
Meraut was the third Cowboy to capture a singles victory on Saturday, putting OSU in front for the first time in the match. The Frenchman has been a key part of the Oklahoma State lineup in recent weeks and, after his 6-3, 6-4, victory over Felix Rauch, he has now won six straight singles contests. Meraut's win was also his 10th of the season, making him the sixth different Cowboy to reach double figures this season.
Friday's match marked the first home match for OSU in nearly a month after the Cowboys spent the previous three weekends competing in Virginia, Minnesota, Illinois and California. Oklahoma State has also won 18 of its last 22 matches at the Greenwood Tennis Center dating back to the start of last season, which includes 7-1 mark this spring.
The Cowboys will look to continue their success in Stillwater on Sunday when they face San Diego State at noon. Sunday's match will mark the first meeting between the teams since 2014.
No. 4 Oklahoma State 4, No. 26 Memphis 3
March 10, 2017 | Greenwood Tennis Center | Stillwater, Oklahoma
Doubles (Order of finish: 2, 3)
C1: No. 3 Cash/Kadhe (OSU) vs. Lemke/Watson (MEM), 4-3, unf.
C2: Peniston/Rauch (MEM) def. No. 71 Gerch/Mendoza (OSU), 6-1
C3: Pallares/Story (MEM) def. Dubinski/Finzleberg (OSU), 6-2
Singles (Order of finish: 5, 4, 1, 6, 3, 2)
C1: No. 22 Julian Cash (OSU) def. Ryan Peniston (MEM), 6-4, 6-4
C2: No. 124 Lucas Gerch (OSU) def. No. 78 Andrew Watson (MEM), 6-7 (8), 7-5, 6-3
C3: Kai Lemke (MEM) def. No. 62 Lukas Finzelberg (OSU), 6-2, 6-4
C4: No. 54 Arjun Kadhe (OSU) def. Chris Patzanovsky (MEM), 6-4, 6-2
C5: Jan Pallares (MEM) def. Artur Dubinski (OSU), 6-1, 6-4
C6: Tristan Meraut (OSU) def. Felix Rauch (MEM), 6-3, 6-4
"If you have to have someone last on, you want a senior and Lucas (Gerch) has been there plenty of times before," head coach Jay Udwadia said. "We have a lot of confidence in him, and in all our guys, because we've been there before and things worked out for us in the end."
Gerch's win had plenty of entertainment value from the start, as he went back and forth with Andrew Watson, ranked No. 78 in the nation, in the first set before Watson ultimately claimed the set in a tight tiebreak.
Gerch, the final Cowboy to finish his match on Friday, found himself down a break, 4-2, to the Tiger in the pivotal second set. The left-hander then made a slight adjustment to his strategy and showcased his grit, winning five of the next six games to earn split sets with Watson.
In the decisive third, Gerch immediately took control by picking up an early break point to go up 3-1 on Watson. The senior then continued his impressive form as he put away the set and sealed the Cowboys' 12th win of the season, 6-7 (8), 7-5, 6-3. In total, Gerch won 11 of the final 15 games to secure his 75th career singles win.
"He's been down 5-0 in the third set in the last match on before, so you can never count Gerch out," Udwadia said. "We were tied in the match and conditions were a little tough out there today, but we were at home and Gerch is very mentally strong and he was able to get us the win."
The Cowboys' comeback victory was made even more impressive after OSU dropped the doubles point for just the third time this season. Needing to win four of the six singles contests to win their fourth-straight match, Oklahoma State got wins from Gerch, as well as Arjun Kadhe, Julian Cash and Tristan Meraut to seal the win on Friday.
Kadhe, now ranked a career-best No. 54 in the nation, was the first to put OSU on the board and earning his team-high 14th singles win of the season in a 6-4, 6-2, victory over Chris Patzanovsky. His doubles partner Julian Cash was quick to follow suit, as the right-hander defeated Memphis' Ryan Peniston, 6-4, 6-4. Cash and Kadhe's victories leveled the match at 2-2 for OSU and brought the Greenwood Tennis Center crowd to its feet.
Meraut was the third Cowboy to capture a singles victory on Saturday, putting OSU in front for the first time in the match. The Frenchman has been a key part of the Oklahoma State lineup in recent weeks and, after his 6-3, 6-4, victory over Felix Rauch, he has now won six straight singles contests. Meraut's win was also his 10th of the season, making him the sixth different Cowboy to reach double figures this season.
Friday's match marked the first home match for OSU in nearly a month after the Cowboys spent the previous three weekends competing in Virginia, Minnesota, Illinois and California. Oklahoma State has also won 18 of its last 22 matches at the Greenwood Tennis Center dating back to the start of last season, which includes 7-1 mark this spring.
The Cowboys will look to continue their success in Stillwater on Sunday when they face San Diego State at noon. Sunday's match will mark the first meeting between the teams since 2014.
No. 4 Oklahoma State 4, No. 26 Memphis 3
March 10, 2017 | Greenwood Tennis Center | Stillwater, Oklahoma
Doubles (Order of finish: 2, 3)
C1: No. 3 Cash/Kadhe (OSU) vs. Lemke/Watson (MEM), 4-3, unf.
C2: Peniston/Rauch (MEM) def. No. 71 Gerch/Mendoza (OSU), 6-1
C3: Pallares/Story (MEM) def. Dubinski/Finzleberg (OSU), 6-2
Singles (Order of finish: 5, 4, 1, 6, 3, 2)
C1: No. 22 Julian Cash (OSU) def. Ryan Peniston (MEM), 6-4, 6-4
C2: No. 124 Lucas Gerch (OSU) def. No. 78 Andrew Watson (MEM), 6-7 (8), 7-5, 6-3
C3: Kai Lemke (MEM) def. No. 62 Lukas Finzelberg (OSU), 6-2, 6-4
C4: No. 54 Arjun Kadhe (OSU) def. Chris Patzanovsky (MEM), 6-4, 6-2
C5: Jan Pallares (MEM) def. Artur Dubinski (OSU), 6-1, 6-4
C6: Tristan Meraut (OSU) def. Felix Rauch (MEM), 6-3, 6-4
Players Mentioned
/ Cowboy Tennis
/ Cowboy Tennis
/ Cowboy Tennis
/ Cowboy Tennis
/ Cowboy Tennis
/ Cowboy Tennis
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