Big 12 Run Ends in Semifinal

²Texas

²⁵Oklahoma

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The No. 25 Oklahoma men's tennis team's run at the Big 12 Championship came to an end Saturday with a 4-2 loss to No. 2 Texas in the semifinals.

OU (15-10, 2-5 Big 12) tallied singles wins from Jake Van Emburgh and Alex Bakshi, but fell short to the Longhorns.

“Today we had our chances to take the match,” said OU head coach Nick Crowell. “We played good doubles again and put ourselves right there in position, we just need to do a few things better and we will get that point next time.

Our goal is to keep getting better moving forward into NCAAs. This team has a lot of heart and resiliency and I'm excited to get back on the courts these next two weeks and get back to work.”

In doubles, Van Emburgh and Ferran Calvo came away with a win on court two, but the Sooners dropped the opening point. Van Emburgh and Calvo took down Colin Markes and Leonardo Telles 6-3. After tying the match at every game up to 3-all, the Sooners won the next three games, sealed by a Van Emburgh service winner, to capture court two.

No. 53 Bakshi and Stefano Tsorotiotis fell to No. 6 Harrison Scott and Christian Sigsgaard 6-3 on court one. At the No. 3 line, Max Stewart and Spencer Papa were defeated by Chih Chi Huang and Yuya Ito 7-5.

In singles, No. 63 Bakshi pulled off an upset at the two spot, taking down No. 7 Ito in straight sets. After trailing early in the first, Bakshi rallied to take the set 6-4, then carried his momentum into the second where he never trailed to win 6-3.

“Alex got a huge win for the Sooners. His opponent is so tough and Alex showed what he can do when he is playing his game,” said Crowell.

No. 80 Van Emburgh routed No. 73 Telles on court two. The sophomore jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first set before closing it out 6-4. Van Emburgh trailed 2-1 to start the second but took control and allowed Telles just one more game to win 6-3.

“Jake stepped up again and showed why he is one of the toughest competitors in the nation. His opponent is a senior with a lot of experience and Jake really took it to him. “

No. 36 Papa fell to No. 9 Sigsgaard 6-4, 6-3 on court one. Beiler was defeated by Markes 6-4, 6-3 at the No. 5 line. On court six, Tsorotiotis fell to Rodrigo Banzer 6-2, 6-1.

When play was halted, Calvo was headed to a third set with No. 53 Scott on court three. Calvo took the first set 6-4 before Scott claimed set two 6-3.

The Sooners await their NCAA fate, with selections announced April 29. The first and second rounds of the tournament will be held May 3-5 at campus sites.

Results

Singles Results
1. #9 Christian Sigsgaard (UT) def. #36 Spencer Papa (OU) 6-4, 6-3
2. #62 Alex Bakshi (OU) def. #7 Yuya Ito (UT) 6-4, 6-3
3. #80 Jake Van Emburgh (OU) def. #73 Leonardo Telles (UT) 6-4, 6-3
4. #53 Harrison Scott (UT) vs. Ferran Calvo (OU) 4-6, 6-3, unfinished
5. Colin Markes (UT) def. Mason Beiler (OU) 6-4, 6-3
6. Rodrigo Banzer (UT) def. Stefano Tsorotiotis (OU) 6-2, 6-1

Doubles Results
1. #6 Harrison Scott/Christian Sigsgaard (UT) def. #53 Alex Bakshi/Stefano Tsorotiotis (OU) 6-3
2. Jake Van Emburgh/Ferran Calvo (OU) def. Colin Markes/Leonardo Telles (UT) 6-3
3. Chih Chi Huang/Yuya Ito (UT) def. Spencer Papa/Max Stewart (OU) 7-5

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (6,1,2,3,5)

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Results

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Players Mentioned

Mason Beiler

Ferran Calvo

Spencer Papa

Max Stewart

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics