Sooners Go 2-1 At Blue-Gray Classic

March 21, 2009

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The 41st-ranked University of Oklahoma men's tennis team (8-5) defeated its second-ranked opponent in two days, as they overwhelmed No. 75 Hawaii (3-6), 4-0, at the Blue-Gray National Tennis Classic held at the Lagoon Park Tennis Center in Montgomery, Ala.

“I am so happy for the players for their great win over Hawaii today,” head coach Paul Lockwood said. “They came to the courts this morning with a lot of energy and a great deal of confidence because they wanted to finish this tournament on a winning note, and walk away with two wins over nationally-ranked teams which we accomplished.”

OU began the Blue-Gray tournament with a rematch against No. 22 Boise State, but the Sooners were unable to avenge their earlier loss and fell to the Broncos, 4-0.

The Sooners bounced back to secure wins over their next two opponents, defeating 48th-ranked Mississippi State, 4-2, and No. 75 Hawaii.

The Hawaii match was OU's final dual of the invitational tournament. With the win, the Sooners possess a 6-5 record against opponents ranked in the top 75.

OU began its match with Hawaii taking the pivotal doubles point and never looked back from there.

“Our energy and quality in doubles led us off on the right foot,” Lockwood said. “We followed it up with three outstanding straight-set wins to clinch the match, 4-0.”

The Sooners gained the victory after junior Blake Boswell, freshman George Chanturia and sophomore Ionut Beleleu each defeated their respective opponents. Boswell cruised to a victory over the Warriors' Philipp Eberhard, 6-2, 6-1. Beleleu handily defeated Hawaii's 84th-ranked Leo Rosenberger in identical sets, 6-1, 6-1. Chanturia secured the victory by beating Jeff Fitch, 6-3, 6-4.

Junior Andrei Daescu, No. 94-nationally, battled Hawaii's 75th-ranked Dennis Lajola. Daescu took the first set, 6-1. However, OU clinched the match before a victor was named.

“I was very pleased with our performance, attitude and energy,” Lockwood said. “We look forward to resting before hosting matches against Big 12 opponents, Texas A&M and Texas, this upcoming weekend.”

#41 OKLAHOMA 4, #75 Hawaii 0

Doubles
1. Ionut Beleleu/Sergey Avdeyev (OU) def. Dennis Lajola/Andreas Weber (UH), 8-5
2. Jeff Fitch/Leo Rosenberg (UH) def. Andrei Daescu/David Pultr (OU), 8-6
3. George Chanturia/Blake Boswell def. Sascha Heinemann/Craig Faulk (UH), 8-5

Singles
1. #94 Andrei Daescu (OU) vs. #75 Dennis Lajola (UH), 6-1, 1-3 (DNF)
2. Andreas Weber (UH) vs. David Pultr (OU), 6-4, 1-2 (DNF)
3. Ionut Beleleu (OU) def. #84 Leo Rosenberg (UH), 6-1, 6-1
4. Sergey Adveyev (OU) vs. Sascha Heinemann (UH), 6-0, 2-2 (DNF)
5. George Chanturia (OU) def. Jeff Fitch (UH) 6-3, 6-4
6. Blake Boswell (OU) def. Philipp Eberhard (UH), 6-2, 6-1

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