Alvarez Ties Pair of Records in Bedlam Blowout

^#12Oklahoma State

^#10Oklahoma

2016 Stats

STILLWATER, Okla. – A pair of record-tying wins from senior Axel Alvarez helped push the 10^th-ranked Oklahoma men's tennis team past No. 12 Oklahoma State, 4-0 on Saturday in Stillwater, Okla. Alvarez won in both singles and doubles, tying the school records for both career wins and career singles wins.

"We played a good match today," head coach John Roddick said. "Our intensity is getting better, but we still need more. We'll work on that this week. We are looking forward to the Big 12 Championship."

Things started slowly for Oklahoma in doubles with Oklahoma State taking a 4-0 lead at number two doubles and a 4-1 lead at number three doubles. OU rallied however, as on court one Alvarez and junior Andrew Harris kept their match close until they took a late break to beat 6^th-ranked Julian Cash and Arjun Kadhe 6-4.

The Cowboys took the match at line two doubles, but freshmen Andre Biro and Max Mora rallied to send their match into a tiebreaker on court three. Facing Lukas Finzelberg and Tristan Meraut, OU's young duo fell into an early 2-4 hole in the breaker. Biro and Mora fought back, winning five of the next six points to win 7-5 and claim the match. That win gave OU the doubles point and a 1-0 lead heading to singles.

Junior Alex Ghilea kept the momentum rolling for Oklahoma with a straight-sets win at number four singles. Ghilea bested Meraut 6-3, 6-2 at line four singles to put the Sooners up 2-0.

Alvarez got back in on the action shortly after Ghilea's win. The senior ace finished off No. 115 Kadhe 6-2, 7-5 at number two singles to put Oklahoma up 3-0 and just one point from the win. The win was the 212^th of Alvarez's career, tying him for the most in OU history with 2015 graduate Dane Webb. It was also his 115^th career singles win, tying Oliver Lorin's school record.

"Axel has been a tremendous player on some great teams," Roddick said. "His record shows that and we are happy for him. He deserves to go out with the records."

The deciding point came on court one where Harris was making his first appearance of the year at the top spot. Harris took the first set from No. 45 Cash in a hard-fought breaker that saw extra points before ending 10-8 in OU's favor. Harris controlled the second set, winning 6-3 to pick up his fourth consecutive win and clinch the dual for Oklahoma.

The Sooners finish the regular season at 3-2 in the Big 12 and 14-9 overall. Oklahoma will be the No. 3 seed for the Big 12 Championship which takes place April 28 through May 1 in Stillwater, Okla.

For more information on Oklahoma Men's Tennis, follow the team on Twitter at @OU_MTennis.

RESULTS

DOUBLES

1. ^#36 Alvarez/Harris def. ^#6 Julian Cash/Arjun Kadhe - 6-4

2. Lucas Gerch/Jurence Mendoza def. Ghilea/Papa - 6-2
3. Biro/Mora def. Lukas Finzelberg/Tristan Meraut - 7-6(5)

Order of finish: 2, 1, 3

SINGLES

1. Harris def. #⁴⁵ Cash - 7-6(8), 6-3
2. ^#26Alvarez def. ^#115 Kadhe - 6-2, 7-5

3. ^#71 Papa vs. Gerch - 6-1, 6-7, DNF

4. ^#57 Ghilea def. Meraut - 6-3, 6-2

5. Biro vs. Finzelberg - 6-0, 6-4, DNF

6. Mendoza vs. Mora - 6-4, 5-4, DNF

Order of finish: 4, 2, 1