March 16, 2012

Results

FORT WORTH, Texas - The No. 23-ranked University of Tulsa men's tennis team came from behind on multiple occasions to post a 4-3 victory over No. 62 TCU Friday night at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center.

The Golden Hurricane (8-7) dropped the doubles point but won four singles matches over the Horned Frogs (5-9) to take the victory on enemy grounds.

The No. 5 ranked doubles team of senior Ashley Watling and junior Clifford Marsland started competition with an 8-6 triumph over Paul Chappell and JT Sundling on the top court.

The momentum would not continue for Tulsa, however, as junior Grant Ive and freshman Alejandro Espejo suffered their first setback as a tandem on the second court, which was an 8-6 loss to Daniel Sanchez and Max Stevens.

TCU took the opening point of the match after Nick Chappell and Will Stein defeated sophomore Japie De Klerk and freshman Lucian Gheorghe 9-8 (8-6) at the third position.

No. 97 Marsland tied proceedings following a 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Facundo Lugones at No. 2 singles.

Sanchez put the home side back on top with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Ive at the fourth flight, but TU once again tied the match at 2-2 after No. 75 Watling topped Sundling 6-2, 6-4 on the third court.

TCU put Tulsa on the brink of elimination after Nick Chappell was able to move past No. 68 De Klerk 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 at the top of the lineup.

The Golden Hurricane would not go down without a fight, however, and the road team again battled back to even the score when junior Tristan Jackson defeated Stein 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 on the fifth court.

The two players split the first two sets, and Chappell found himself ahead 6-5 in the third after breaking Espejo's serve at 5-all.

The freshman Golden Hurricane showed grit and determination as he broke back to take the final match into a third-set tiebreak, which he would eventually win 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3).

The 4-3 final score was the first time TU held a lead in the entire match that took nearly four and a half hours.

Tulsa will now travel to Austin, Texas, for a 1 p.m. showdown March 18 with No. 13 Texas.

Tennis Match Results
Mar 16, 2012 at Fort Worth, Texas
(Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center)
#23 Tulsa 4, #62 TCU 3
Singles competition 
1. Nick Chappell (TCU) def. #68 Japie De Klerk (TLS) 6-3, 4-6, 6-0
2. #97 Clifford Marsland (TLS) def. Facundo Lugones (TCU) 6-1, 6-2
3. #75 Ashley Watling (TLS) def. JT Sundling (TCU) 6-2, 6-4
4. Daniel Sanchez (TCU) def. Grant Ive (TLS) 6-3, 6-4
5. Tristan Jackson (TLS) def. Will Stein (TCU) 7-5, 1-6, 6-4
6. Alejandro Espejo (TLS) def. Paul Chappell (TCU) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3)
Doubles competition
1. #5 Ashley Watling/Clifford Marsland (TLS) def. Paul Chappell/JT Sundling (TCU) 8-6
2. Daniel Sanchez/Max Stevens (TCU) def. Grant Ive/Alejandro Espejo (TLS) 8-6
3. Nick Chappell/Will Stein (TCU) def. Japie De Klerk/Lucian Gheorghe (TLS) 9-8 (8-6)
Match Notes:
TCU 5-9; National ranking #62
Tulsa 8-7; National ranking #23
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,4,3,1,5,6)