Vocel Leads Cowboys Past NC State

Friday, March 8

Stillwater, Okla.

3:30 p.m.

Oklahoma State University

No. 35 North Carolina State

March 08, 2019 | Cowboy Tennis

Box Score

STILLWATER – Behind the strong play of sophomore Matej Vocel, Oklahoma State's men's tennis team defeated the No. 35 NC State Wolfpack, 4-2, Friday at the Greenwood Tennis Center.

"We knew it was going to be a good match," Cowboy head coach Jay Udwadia said. "NC State was coming off some good wins. They've had a solid year so far, but we kind of maximized everything today."

Vocel clinched the match for the No. 30 Cowboys by defeating No. 25 Alexis Galarneau of NC State, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), on court one. Earlier in the match, Vocel paired with Brady Draheim to dominate NC State's Tadas Babelis and Michael Ogden, 6-0.

"I try to focus on the positives," Vocel said. "Sometimes it's hard because I sometimes make easy mistakes, but I have to let go of my emotions and just focus on the next point."

The doubles tandem of Mathieu Scaglia and Maxim Tybar clinched the doubles point for the Pokes, as they defeated Igor and Ivan Saveljic (NCST), 6-3.

Scaglia and Tybar improve to 3-0 when competing together, two of those matches coming against top-20 doubles teams.

In singles, the Wolfpack quickly tied the match at one as Tadas Babelis defeated OSU's Luke Hammond 6-3, 6-3.

The Pokes responded by taking two matches in straight sets—Maxim Tybar defeated Yannai Barkai, 6-3, 6-4, and Brady Draheim bested Ivan Saveljic, 6-4, 6-4. The Cowboys went up in the match, 3-1.

On court two, NC State's Igor Saveljic defeated Mathieu Scaglia, 0-6, 6-4, 6-3, to close the Cowboy lead to 3-2.

Vocel proceeded to clinch the match and gave the Pokes their ninth win of the season, and their third in a row.

The ITA ranked Vocel the No. 2 Freshman/Newcomer in the preseason.

The Cowboys are back in action Sunday in Stillwater for a doubleheader against No. 50 Memphis and Oral Roberts at noon and 5 p.m., respectively.

No. 3 Oklahoma State 4, No. 35 NC State 2
March 8, 2019 | Greenwood Tennis Center | Stillwater, Okla.

Doubles (Order of finish: 3, 1)
1. #22 Mathieu Scaglia/Maxim Tybar (OSU) def. Igor Saveljic/Ivan Saveljic (ST) 6-3
2. Emile Hudd/Luke Hammond (OSU) vs. Yannai Barkai/Alexis Galarneau (ST) 4-5, unfinished
3. Matej Vocel/Brady Draheim (OSU) def. Tadas Babelis/Michael Ogden (ST) 6-0

Singles (Order of Finish: 4,3,6,2,1)
1. Matej Vocel (OSU) def. #25 Alexis Galarneau (ST) 6-3, 7-6 (7-2)
2. Igor Saveljic (ST) def. Mathieu Scaglia (OSU) 0-6, 6-4, 6-3
3. Maxim Tybar (OSU) def. Yannai Barkai (ST) 6-3, 6-4
4. Tadas Babelis (ST) def. Luke Hammond (OSU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Emile Hudd (OSU) vs. Georgiy Malyshev (ST) 3-6, 6-4, 1-1, unfinished
6. Brady Draheim (OSU) def. Ivan Saveljic (ST) 6-4, 6-4