OU Downs Troy, Will Defend Title at National Indoors

^#64Troy

^#2 Oklahoma

NORMAN – No. 2 Oklahoma men's tennis earned its fourth consecutive berth in the ITA National Indoor Championships on Sunday, defeating No. 64 Troy, 4-0, at the Gregg Wadley Indoor Pavilion at the Headington Family Tennis Center.

The Sooners (2-0) started fast on Sunday, taking the doubles point from the Trojans (1-4) and sweeping three singles matches to claim the victory.

“We took care of business. I felt like we had a few mental lapses, but we had some guys go out and play really well,” head coach John Roddick said. “Some of the score lines were impressive. We didn't let guys in matches. That's what we like to see. Overall, it was a pretty good day. We learned a couple things, but I don't feel like we were as mentally sharp as yesterday.”

OU's tandem of Axel Alvarez and Spencer Papa were first off the court in doubles action, topping Troy's Andre Baldo and Filip Mansson, 6-3, on court one. Austin Siegel and Alex Ghilea clinched the points for the Sooners with a dominant 6-2 victory at the No. 2 line over the Trojans' Andy Lau and Giovani Samaha, 6-2.

The Sooners' freshman tandem of Maxime Mora and Andrea Biro were up 5-4 on court three when the doubles point was clinched.

“We have to continue to work on our doubles,” Roddick said following the win. “Our new team at three (Biro and Mora) is good, they're talented, but there's some fundamentals that we can get a lot better and that can get better fast. That's one of the things we need to work on.”

In singles, OU earned three straight-set victories to close out the match. Florin Bragusi gave the Sooners a 2-0 lead by defeating Troy's Mansson, 6-1, 6-0 on court four.

No. 60 Alvarez picked up his second win of the weekend, topping the Trojans' Daniel Bustamante with a 6-3, 6-2 victory at the top of the lineup. Mora sealed the match in favor of the Sooners with a complete performance on court six, knocking off Troy's Baldo, 6-3, 6-1.

Playing in “clinch-clinch” format, all other matches were halted when Oklahoma secured the fourth point.

OU will look to defend its National Indoor Team Championship, Feb. 12-15, in Charlottesville, Va. Last season, the Sooners defeated No. 1 USC, 4-2 for their first-ever national indoor championship.

Next up for the Sooners is a home match with No. 11 Wake Forest next Sunday at 1 p.m.

RESULTS

DOUBLES

1. Axel Alvarez Llamas/Spencer Papa def. Andre Baldo/Filip Mansson - 6-3
2. Austin Siegel/Alex Ghilea def. Andy Lau/Giovani Samaha - 6-2
3. Maxime Mora/Andre Biro def. Pablo Moreno/Mustapha Belcora - 5-4

Order of Finish: 1, 2

SINGLES

1. ^#60Axel Alvarez Llamas def. Daniel Bustamente - 6-3, 6-2
2. Spencer Papa vs. Andy Lau - 6-0, 5-5, unfinished
3. ^#92Alex Ghilea vs. Giovani Samaha - 4-6, 2-4, unfinished
4. Florin Bragusi def. Filip Mansson - 6-1, 6-0
5. Andre Biro vs. Pablo Moreno - 6-0, 5-6, unfinished
6. Maxime Mora def. Andre Baldo - 6-3, 6-1

Order of Finish: 4, 1, 6