Sept. 21, 2012
WACO, Texas -
The Tulsa men's tennis team completed a successful first day at the HEB Invitational hosted by Baylor University on Friday, September 21.
Alejandro Espejo won two matches on Friday defeating Hunter Goertz of Louisiana Lafeyette, 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the first round and John Collins of Tennessee, 6-4, 6-4 in the second. He will face Andreas Bjerrehus of Virginia Tech tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. as the winner will advance to the quarterfinals.
Japie De Klerk cruised to a first round victory over UTPA's Joseph Bishop 6-0, 6-1 before defeating Gustavo Gonzalez of Rice 7-5, 6-1.
In doubles play, Espejo and De Klerk dispatched UTSA's David Kelleher and Kolby Kilgo, 8-2 in the first round and defeated Caio Gomez and Luis Hernadez of Laredo Community College, 8-4 in the round of 16. They will face the tournament's No. 1 seed in John Collins and Hunter Reese of Tennessee in the quarterfinals tomorrow at 8 a.m.
"The biggest thing for these guys is to come out and make sure they are applying the stuff they have been working on during the offseason," commented assistant coach Thomas Liversage. "Alejandro had some nerves early on during his opening match, but he got going and he started to play very well. Japie is a little bit of a veteran by now, so he knows what he is doing."
After falling to Thomas Panoulas of UTPA, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round, freshman Matt Kirby bounced back in the consolation bracket defeating Brad Marriott of Southern Miss, 7-6(4), 6-2. Kirby will play at 11 a.m. tomorrow morning against Yauheni Yakauleu of UTA.
For all Tulsa men's tennis news and information, visit www.TulsaHurricane.com. Follow Tulsa Athletics on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TulsaHurricane and Facebook at www.facebook.com/TulsaHurricane. Follow Tulsa Men's Tennis on Twitter (http://twitter.com/TulsaMTennis) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TulsaMTennis).
Tennis Match Results
September 21 at Waco, Texas
(Hurd Tennis Center)
Singles Main Draw
First Round
Alejandro Espejo (Tulsa) def. Hunter Goertz (ULL) 1-6, 6-2, 6-3
Thomas Panoulas (UTPA) def. Matt Kirby (Tulsa), 6-3, 6-4
Japie De Klerk (Tulsa) def. Joseph Bishop (UTPA) 6-0, 6-1
Second Round
Espejo (Tulsa) def. John Collins (Tenn.) 6-4, 6-4
De Klerk (Tulsa) def. Gustavo Gonzalez (Rice) 7-5, 6-1
Singles Consolation Round
First Round
Matt Kirby (Tulsa) def. Brad Marriott (USM) 7-6 (4), 6-2
Doubles Main Draw
First Round
De Klerk/Espejo (Tulsa) def. David Kelleher/Kolby Kilgo (UTSA) 8-2
Second Round
De Klerk/Espejo (Tulsa) def. Caio Gomez/Luis Hernadez (Laredo) 8-4
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