Completed Event: Men's Tennis versus Alabama on March 22, 2026 , Win , 4, to, 0
Final
Men's Tennis
4
vs Alabama
0
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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Tuesday, March 10
Norman, Okla.
5:00 PM
University of Oklahoma
4
vs
3
Virginia
OU Tops No. 7 Virginia In Comeback Fashion
March 10, 2015 | Men's Tennis
No. 7 Virginia
3
4
No. 1 Oklahoma
This is the best group of competitors that I have ever been around. They believe they are going to do it, I believe they are going to do it and I think everyone in the stands believes they are going to do it.
Head Coach John Roddick
NORMAN – For the second time in as many matches the top-ranked Oklahoma men's tennis team erased a 2-0 deficit and pulled out a come from behind win. The Sooners topped No. 7 Virginia 4-3 Tuesday night at the Headington Family Tennis Center.
“Win or lose I think we feel really good about it,” head coach John Roddick said. “Considering the schedule we've played—and I know our guys are feeling that—we've been pushed. That's our 11th top-25 win and our fourth top-10 win. It is just a hell of an effort, especially to come back.”
The Sooners (14-1) dropped the doubles point for the seventh time this season and, for the sixth time this season, they went ahead and won anyway. The Sooners got singles wins from junior Axel Alvarez, sophomore Andrew Harris, senior Dane Webb and a clinching win from sophomore Florin Bragusi to take the dual.
“We just fought hard,” Roddick said. “That's what this team does. They just compete like crazy. This is the best group of competitors that I have ever been around. It's amazing how they pull matches out. They believe that they are going to do it, I believe that they are going to do it and I think everyone in the stands believes they are going to do it.”
"I was incredibly excited," Harris said. "I'm more excited that when we beat Ohio State and ended their streak. For some reason this feels better. They're one of the top two or three team in the country, even though they are ranked No. 7 right now. To win four singles against a team like that is amazing. I'm so proud of all the guys, and I am just so happy."
Trailing 2-0, the Sooners badly needed a point. Playing at No. 2 singles, Alvarez delivered for Oklahoma. The junior from Asturias, Spain, ranked No. 7, remained perfect in dual play with a 6-4, 7-5 straight-sets win over No. 3 Ryan Shane. Alvarez moves to 13-0 in dual play and boasts seven wins over ranked opponents so far this season.
Alvarez's win cut the Cavs' lead to 2-1. On court one, Harris had rallied from a first set loss to No. 27 Mitchell Frank to force a third set. The 19th-ranked sophomore took a break at 3-all in the third and never looked back, winning 6-4 to take the match and even the dual at 2-all with just three matches remaining.
"Mitchell is a great player," Roddick said. "He has been No. 1 in the country. I haven't seen very many guys lose first sets and come back and win against him. Andrew was able to turn that around. That's a very rare thing and an incredible effort."
Virginia took the next point when sophomore Alex Ghilea fell 6-2, 3-6, 3-6 to Alexander Ritschard. With the Cavaliers leading 3-2, Oklahoma needed to win both of the remaining matches.
On court three, Webb, ranked No. 26, dropped the first set to No. 6 Thai-Son Kwiatkowski 3-6 and faced match point at 3-5 in the second set. Webb rallied, and won the set 7-5. The senior rode that momentum into the third where he jumped out to a 3-0 lead and eventually won 6-3 to tie the match for the second time at 3-all. After trailing 5-3 in the second, Webb won seven of the next nine games.
I have been here for four years and it just makes me feel proud to be part of this program. To come in and lose doubles, and then beat them for the first time ever, it makes me feel great.
Senior Dane Webb
"That's typical Webb," Roddick said. "I never doubt his heart or his character on the court. He has been the leader for four years here. He started that trend of competing as hard as you can for every ball. That showed tonight and it showed at Ohio State."
For the second time in as many matches, all eyes turned to court six where sophomore Florin Bragusi was playing in a third set that would decide the match. Bragusi came up big for Oklahoma once again. The sophomore broke J.C. Aragone at 4-3 and then held serve to take the set 6-4 and deliver the win.
The win is the Sooners' first in program history over the Cavaliers. Oklahoma was 0-3 all-time against Virginia enering this evening's match.
"I have been here for four years and it just makes me feel proud to be part of this program," Webb said. "My freshman they were at the same level and they beat us 6-1. To come in and lose doubles and then beat them for the first time ever, it makes me feel great."
"Give credit to Virginia," Roddick said. "I think they played well. We've played everyone in the country and they are one of the best teams. They are incredibly talented and I know they have better tennis in them as well. They will be scary in May."
Oklahoma reaches the halfway point of the season having won 14 of its 15 matches, 11 of which came over top-25 opponents, and having claimed the 2015 ITA National Indoor Championship.
The Sooners will get some much deserved time off; they do not play again until they head west to Indian Wells, Calif. to compete in the Oracle Classic Mar 20-22.
For more information on Oklahoma Men's Tennis, follow the team on Twitter at @OU_MTennis.RESULTS
DOUBLES
#19 Corinteli/Shane def. #6 Webb/Alvarez 8-7
Kwiatkowski/Aragone def. #52 Harris/Ghilea 8-6
Frank/Altamirano vs. Papa/Bragusi 5-7 DNF
Order of finish: 3, 2
SINGLES
#19 Andrew Harris def. #27 Mitchell Frank 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
#7 Axel Alvarez def. #3 Ryan Shane 6-4, 7-5
#26 Dane Webb def. #6 Thai-Son Swiatkowski 3-6, 7-5, 6-3
#70 Collin Altamirano def. Spencer Papa 6-4, 6-4
Alexander Ritschard def. #56 Alex Ghilea 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
Florin Bragusi def. J.C. Aragone 6-7(9-11), 6-2, 6-3
Order of finish: 4, 2, 5, 1, 3, 6
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Saturday, March 30
Thursday, March 28
Saturday, March 23
Thursday, March 21
