Feb. 12, 2012

Results

"This was a great win for us, especially with how they embarrassed us at their place last year," Tulsa Head Coach Vince Westbrook said. "That loss motivated us to go on our run all the way to the (NCAA) Round of 16."

After Tulsa fell 6-1 to the Aggies in College Station a year ago, the Golden Hurricane went on a six-match win streak. That streak included a Conference USA Championship and a trip to the NCAA Round of 16 for the first time in school history.

"We have been looking for that marquee victory this season, and we couldn't quite get over the hump until today," Westbrook said. "Hopefully this win gives us the confidence we need to have a great second half of the season like we did last year."

The Golden Hurricane (4-5) won the doubles point and took five of the six singles matches over the defending Big 12 Conference Champions. Texas A&M (5-2) was coming off a 4-3 win over No. 14 Texas this past Friday.

Tulsa began strong by winning the doubles point, which was started by senior Ashley Watling and junior Clifford Marsland defeating Junior Ore and Jackson Withrow 8-2 at the top of the lineup.

Watling and Marsland comprise the third-ranked pair in the nation, and they are now on a six-match win streak.

The home team took the first point of the match after sophomore Japie De Klerk and freshman Lucian Gheorghe defeated Alexis Klegou and Jordan Szabo 8-5 from the third position.

Juniors Grant Ive and Tristan Jackson, ranked No. 37 in the nation, fell behind 7-1 to Colin Hoover and John Lewis. The Tulsa tandem fought all the way back and forced a tiebreak, which was eventually won by the Aggie pair 8-7 (7-3).

The Golden Hurricane quickly jumped ahead 3-0 after No. 88 Ive defeated Lewis 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4 singles, and freshman Alejandro Sanchez toppled Niall Angus 6-3, 6-3 from the sixth court.

The clinching victory came at No. 2 singles, where No. 83-ranked Watling disposed of Hoover 6-1, 6-4. Sanchez and Watling are both on five-match win streaks.

With the team victory in tow, the home team added two more points to the win by capturing the third and fifth courts.

Jackson posted one of the biggest wins of his career, as he defeated No. 73 Jeremy Efferding 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 on the fifth court. The win was Jackson's second-career triumph over a ranked opponent and the first this year.

Marsland topped No. 104-ranked Ore 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 from No. 3 singles. Marsland picked up his second win over a ranked opponent this spring.

De Klerk was unable to make it a clean sweep as he fell 6-4, 6-3 to No. 19 Klegou at the top of the lineup.

"Obviously a key for us has been getting healthy this year," Westbrook said. "We've been a little banged up, but now we have Japie back, which is huge for us because he is such a great player. Having him at the top of the lineup is key for us because he pushes everyone else down a spot."

The Golden Hurricane will stay home to play host to No. 73 Arkansas at 6 p.m. Feb. 17 inside Case Tennis Center.

Tennis Match Results
Feb 12, 2012 at Tulsa, Okla.
(Case Tennis Center)
#23 Tulsa 6, #11 Texas A&M 1
Singles competition 
1. #19 Alexis Klegou (TAMU) def. Japie De Klerk (TLS) 6-4, 6-3
2. #83 Ashley Watling (TLS) def. Colin Hoover (TAMU) 6-1, 6-4
3. Clifford Marsland (TLS) def. #104 Junior Ore (TAMU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
4. #88 Grant Ive (TLS) def. John Lewis (TAMU) 6-2, 6-2
5. Tristan Jackson (TLS) def. #73 Jeremy Efferding (TAMU) 7-6 (7-1), 6-2
6. Alejandro Sanchez (TLS) def. Niall Angus (TAMU) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles competition 
1. #3 Ashley Watling/Clifford Marsland (TLS) def. Junior Ore/Jackson Withrow (TAMU) 8-2
2. Colin Hoover/John Lewis (TAMU) def. #37 Grant Ive/Tristan Jackson (TLS) 8-7 (7-3)
3. Japie De Klerk/Lucian Gheorghe (TLS) def. Alexis Klegou/Jordan Szabo (TAMU) 8-5
Match Notes:
Texas A&M 5-2; National ranking #11
Tulsa 4-5; National ranking #23
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,6,2,5,1,3)