Men's Tennis Hosts NCAA Preliminaries

NORMAN, Okla. – Oklahoma begins the NCAA Men's Tennis Championship on its home court as the No. 2 Sooners host first and second rounds at the Headington Family Tennis Center beginning Saturday, May 10.

Auburn and Harvard square off at 11 a.m. before OU faces Montana at 2 p.m. The winners of first-round matchups meet Sunday at 2 p.m. to battle for a regional title and advancement to the Sweet 16 in Athens, Georgia.

Daily general admission tickets are $5 for adults (3-18) and $3 for youths, seniors and OU students who present a valid OU ID. Groups of 10 or more may also purchase $3 tickets in advance. For tickets, call the OU Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-456-GoOU or purchase online at SoonerSports.com.

Oklahoma finished its best regular season in program history, achieving its first No. 1 ITA weekly rating, second Big 12 regular season championship and recording 23 wins to three losses for its best ever winning percentage.

“I know this team can do deeper than last year,” OU junior Nick Papac said. “These guys are the most competitive group I've ever been around and this team hates to lose. When you combine everything with the work ethic that we have, that's why we can.”

The Sooners are making their fifth straight of 10 NCAA appearances all-time. OU advanced to the round of 16 last season but are confident in improving this year behind the power of all-conference players Guillermo Alcorta, Axel Alvarez and Dane Webb and Big 12 Freshman of the Year Andrew Harris -- all rated among the ITA's top 53 in singles.

“I definitely think it's realistic to say we could win it all,” Webb said. “There's not been one dominant team. Every one of the top teams is really close.”

The Sooners began the spring in the top 10 and reached as high as No. 1 before earning the No. 2 overall seed for the NCAA Championship and the right to host as a regional site.