STILLWATER -- The BYU men's tennis team suffered its tenth consecutive loss of the season to No. 33 Oklahoma State in a 5-1 decision. The Cougars are now 1-10 on the season.
The dual against Oklahoma Stat was played in a different manner than usual. The teams began playing the six singles players and never played doubles because the match was determined when the Cowboys won their four matches.
The sole win for the Cougars came from freshman Chip Hand when his opponent, Yevgen Bondarchuk, retired due to a hampering injury. Both Erik Nyman and Dominik Kaufhold pushed their opponents to three sets fighting to stay in the match.
The BYU men will return to Provo before heading on a five-day, four-game Western road trip to take on UCSB, ASU, Stanford and finishing up with Cal Berkley.
OK STATE 5, BYU 1Singles:
Mark Van Elden (OS) def. (58) Erik Nyman (BYU) 6-0, 5-7, 6-0
Chip Hand (BYU) def. Yevgen Bondarchuk (OS) ret.
Tomas Bohunicky (OS) def. Ivan Kokurin(BYU) 6-1, 6-2
Boris Kuharic (OS) def. Dominik Kaufhold (BYU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
Daniel Byrnes (OS) def. Alonzo Medina (BYU) 6-3, 7-6
Juan Felipe Diaz (OS) def. Tim Bradshaw (BYU) 6-4, 6-1
PROVO -- As mid-season approaches, the BYU men's and women's tennis teams are both heading to Oklahoma this weekend to face the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma. The men's team is 1-8 on the season and the women are 9-3 respectively.
The men's tennis team has had its ups and downs this season. With matches against the nations top ranked teams on the road, the Cougars have had some tight matches and turned some heads in the process. Nearly defeating No. 9 UCLA a couple of weeks ago, BYU has gained valuable experience and hope to turn that experience into some wins this week on the road.
On Friday, the men will face NO. 19 Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla., followed by an equally challenging match against the 53rd-ranked University of Tulsa on Saturday March 6th in Tulsa.
Posting impressive wins over some of the NCAA's top tennis teams, the women's team has defeated No. 13 USC and No. 32 College of William and Mary, both of which in the ITA National Indoor Championship in Madison, Wis., where the Cougars placed 5th overall.
The women's team will first compete along side the BYU men on Saturday against the 50th-ranked Golden Hurricane of Tulsa. Following the match in Tulsa, the Cougars will travel to Stillwater, Okla., to face No. 70 Oklahoma State on Monday and then to Norman, Okla. to take on the University of Oklahoma (No. 34).
The last time the Cougars met the Oklahoma team was in the Regional Championship in Salt Lake City where BYU won in a 6-2 decision, securing its trip to the National Indoor Championship.
For score updates and results for the Tulsa match click here.
