Oklahoma State University Athletics
Saturday, May 13
3 P.M.
Oklahoma State University
3
vs
4
Illinois
Cowboys' NCAA Tournament Run Ends Against No. 25 Illinois
May 13, 2017 | Cowboy Tennis
STILLWATER – The 11th-seeded Oklahoma State men's tennis team was bounced from the 2017 NCAA Tournament Saturday, as the Cowboys fell to No. 25 Illinois, 4-3, at the Michael and Anne Greenwood Tennis Center.
"It was a seesaw match for us," head coach Jay Udwadia said. "It came down to a couple of really close sets on some different courts. We went down in a couple of those sets, but I thought Illinois really came to play in both singles and doubles. I credit them because they came in and competed very well and deserved to win today.
"Our team had a great season this year. It's just unfortunate to not be able to make it to the main site of the NCAA Tournament with the level of talent we have and the way our seniors have helped shape this program into one of the premier programs in the country."
Oklahoma State (22-7; 3-2 Big 12) claimed the match's first point on Saturday, as the Cowboys picked up wins on courts one and three to claim the doubles point for the 22nd time this season.
Julian Cash and Arjun Kadhe, ranked No. 7 in the nation, picked up the day's first win on court one, where they knocked off Alex Jesse and Aleks Kovacevic, 7-5. Cash and Kadhe have now won 29 matches as a tandem this season, 19 of which have come during dual-match play. Their win on court one was followed up on court three by Artur Dubinski and Tristan Meraut, who defeated Vuk Budic and Zeke Clark, 6-4, to clinch the doubles point for OSU.
The Cowboys continued their strong play in the ensuing singles action, recording wins on courts three and six, but Illinois (18-11; 8-3 Big Ten) was able to snag wins on the remaining four courts to secure the win.
Lucas Gerch was the first Cowboy to strike in singles play Saturday, as the left-hander rolled past Illinois' Gui Gomes, 6-3, 6-0. The win improves Gerch to 19-6 this season and marks his 81st career singles win at Oklahoma State. He finishes his OSU career as the program's fifth winningest singles competitor, while his 152 total victories rank as the third most by a Cowboy in the Big 12 era.
"I had an awesome time playing here at OSU these past four years," Gerch said. "We had a lot of ups and downs, but traveling with the guys and going out and competing with my teammates and coaches every day was an awesome experience and I'll always remember my time here in Stillwater."
Lukas Finzelberg followed his fellow countryman moments later on court six, where he defeated Vuk Budic in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3. Finzelberg's win gives him a career-best 20 wins in singles action this season. That mark also ranks as the most by a Cowboy this season.
After Finzelberg's win, however, Illinois began its rally and picked up victories on the final four courts to bring Oklahoma State's impressive season to an end.
"I feel bad for our guys right now," Udwadia said. "They need to keep their heads up though because we had a tremendous season. I'm definitely proud of their effort all year and I'm tremendously proud of our seniors for everything they've done for this program. I'm looking forward to our guys returning next season and getting the process going again."
No. 10 Oklahoma State 3, No. 25 Illinois 4
May 13, 2017 | Stillwater, Okla. | Greenwood Tennis Center
Doubles (Order of finish: 1, 2, 3)
C1: No. 7 Cash/Kadhe (OSU) def. Jesse/Kovacevic (ILL), 6-3
C2: Gomes/Hiltzik (ILL) def. Gerch/Mendoza (OSU), 7-5
C3: Dubinski/Meraut (OSU) def. Budic/Clark (ILL), 6-4
Singles (Order of finish: 3, 6, 2, 1, 5, 4)
C1: No. 3 Aleks Vukic (ILL) def. No. 26 Julian Cash (OSU), 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5)
C2: No. 41 Aron Hiltzik (ILL) def. No. 105 Arjun Kadhe (OSU), 3-6, 6-3, 6-0
C3: Lucas Gerch (OSU) def. Gui Gomes (ILL), 6-3, 6-0
C4: Aleks Kovacevic (ILL) def. Artur Dubinski (OSU), 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-0
C5: Zeke Clark (ILL) def. Tristan Meraut (OSU), 6-4, 7-6 (8)
C6: No. 76 Lukas Finzelberg (OSU) def. Vuk Budic (ILL), 6-1, 6-3
"It was a seesaw match for us," head coach Jay Udwadia said. "It came down to a couple of really close sets on some different courts. We went down in a couple of those sets, but I thought Illinois really came to play in both singles and doubles. I credit them because they came in and competed very well and deserved to win today.
"Our team had a great season this year. It's just unfortunate to not be able to make it to the main site of the NCAA Tournament with the level of talent we have and the way our seniors have helped shape this program into one of the premier programs in the country."
Oklahoma State (22-7; 3-2 Big 12) claimed the match's first point on Saturday, as the Cowboys picked up wins on courts one and three to claim the doubles point for the 22nd time this season.
Julian Cash and Arjun Kadhe, ranked No. 7 in the nation, picked up the day's first win on court one, where they knocked off Alex Jesse and Aleks Kovacevic, 7-5. Cash and Kadhe have now won 29 matches as a tandem this season, 19 of which have come during dual-match play. Their win on court one was followed up on court three by Artur Dubinski and Tristan Meraut, who defeated Vuk Budic and Zeke Clark, 6-4, to clinch the doubles point for OSU.
The Cowboys continued their strong play in the ensuing singles action, recording wins on courts three and six, but Illinois (18-11; 8-3 Big Ten) was able to snag wins on the remaining four courts to secure the win.
Lucas Gerch was the first Cowboy to strike in singles play Saturday, as the left-hander rolled past Illinois' Gui Gomes, 6-3, 6-0. The win improves Gerch to 19-6 this season and marks his 81st career singles win at Oklahoma State. He finishes his OSU career as the program's fifth winningest singles competitor, while his 152 total victories rank as the third most by a Cowboy in the Big 12 era.
"I had an awesome time playing here at OSU these past four years," Gerch said. "We had a lot of ups and downs, but traveling with the guys and going out and competing with my teammates and coaches every day was an awesome experience and I'll always remember my time here in Stillwater."
Lukas Finzelberg followed his fellow countryman moments later on court six, where he defeated Vuk Budic in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3. Finzelberg's win gives him a career-best 20 wins in singles action this season. That mark also ranks as the most by a Cowboy this season.
After Finzelberg's win, however, Illinois began its rally and picked up victories on the final four courts to bring Oklahoma State's impressive season to an end.
"I feel bad for our guys right now," Udwadia said. "They need to keep their heads up though because we had a tremendous season. I'm definitely proud of their effort all year and I'm tremendously proud of our seniors for everything they've done for this program. I'm looking forward to our guys returning next season and getting the process going again."
No. 10 Oklahoma State 3, No. 25 Illinois 4
May 13, 2017 | Stillwater, Okla. | Greenwood Tennis Center
Doubles (Order of finish: 1, 2, 3)
C1: No. 7 Cash/Kadhe (OSU) def. Jesse/Kovacevic (ILL), 6-3
C2: Gomes/Hiltzik (ILL) def. Gerch/Mendoza (OSU), 7-5
C3: Dubinski/Meraut (OSU) def. Budic/Clark (ILL), 6-4
Singles (Order of finish: 3, 6, 2, 1, 5, 4)
C1: No. 3 Aleks Vukic (ILL) def. No. 26 Julian Cash (OSU), 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5)
C2: No. 41 Aron Hiltzik (ILL) def. No. 105 Arjun Kadhe (OSU), 3-6, 6-3, 6-0
C3: Lucas Gerch (OSU) def. Gui Gomes (ILL), 6-3, 6-0
C4: Aleks Kovacevic (ILL) def. Artur Dubinski (OSU), 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-0
C5: Zeke Clark (ILL) def. Tristan Meraut (OSU), 6-4, 7-6 (8)
C6: No. 76 Lukas Finzelberg (OSU) def. Vuk Budic (ILL), 6-1, 6-3
Players Mentioned
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