Sooners Set for Friday Matchup with Memphis

¹⁸Oklahoma

⁵⁰Memphis

Friday, March 8 | 7 p.m. | Headington Family Tennis Center

FSOK+

NORMAN – The Oklahoma men's tennis team is set to host No. 50 Memphis Friday at 7 p.m. The match will be broadcast on Fox Sports Oklahoma Plus.

Last Time Out

OU (10-3) swept its last weekend of competition, downing two ranked opponents in No. 45 Tulsa 4-1 and No. 21 Florida State 4-1.

The Sooners dropped the doubles point to then-No. 45 Tulsa, but bounced back with singles wins from Alex Bakshi, Jake Van Emburgh, Ferran Calvo and Max Stewart.

Then-No. 21 Oklahoma dominated No. 24 Florida State. The Sooners captured the doubles point with a 6-3 win from Calvo and Bakshi on court two and a 6-4 victory by Spencer Papa and Van Emburgh at the top spot.

In singles, Mason Beiler and Stewart extended OU's lead to 3-0 and Van Emburgh clinched the match at the No. 2 line.

With its win over FSU, Oklahoma reached its tenth win of the season as well as its third straight over a ranked opponent.

Where They Rank

OU was tabbed No. 18 in the latest ITA team rankings (March 5), up six spots from its previous ranking of No. 24.

Papa moved down one spot in the singles release to No. 62 nationally, while Bakshi broke into the rankings for the first time this season at No. 67.

The Sooners were also ranked No. 15 in this week's Tennis Channel/USTA College Tennis Top 25 Rankings.

Sooners Streaking

Sophomore Van Emburgh enters the match on a four-match streak with all those wins coming at the No. 2 line.

Beiler has won his last three matches, all on court five. The freshman is 6-1 on the season with a 5-0 mark at the No. 5 spot.

OU has won its last three matches, all over ranked opponents – No. 49 Kentucky, No. 45 Tulsa and No. 21 Florida State.

Home Court Advantage

OU is 8-1 at the Headington Family Tennis Center this season and has won its last three matches in Norman.

Five of those wins have come as shutouts (against Abilene Christian 7-0; Wichita State, 4-0; Creighton, 4-0; Omaha, 7-0; and Drake, 4-0).

OU's only home loss this season came at the hands of No. 17 Notre Dame in the ITA Kickoff Weekend Championship match.

Scouting Memphis

The Tigers enter Friday's matchup at 9-4 on the season and 1-0 in American Athletic Conference matches.

In its last match, Memphis defeated Temple 5-2 at home. Prior to that contest, the Tigers had lost three straight.

The Tigers' Chris Patzanovsky is No. 123 in the latest ITA singles release. Patzanovsky is 8-1 on the season at the No. 1 line. In doubles, Jan Pallares and Patrick Sydow lead the way with a n 8-2 overall record, playing primarily on court two.

Match Info

First serve is set for 7 p.m. CT following the conclusion of the Oklahoma women's tennis team's match with Tulsa.

Free pizza will be provided while supplies last.

Live stats and live video will be available for the contest, which will also be broadcast on Fox Sports Oklahoma Plus.

OU Athletics has introduced a clear bag policy and walk-through metal detectors at all home events this season. More information on the policy and procedures can be found here.

Admission to the Headington Family Tennis Center is always free.

Up Next

OU will play the final match of its four-match homestand on March 16 when the Sooners host Charlotte.

For updates, follow @OU_MTennis on Twitter or like Oklahoma Men's Tennis on Facebook.