OU Downs Louisville, Advances to Second Round

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Oklahoma men's tennis team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship after defeating No. 23 Louisville 4-2, Friday afternoon.

"Today was a big win for the program," head coach Nick Crowell said. "I am super pumped for our guys who have been battling all year. We only had six guys available for the match, and for everyone to step up with a next-man mentality shows the resiliency and toughness of this team."

Despite dropping the doubles point, the Sooners fought back to claim four singles points and the match.

The Cardinals notched the doubles point with wins on courts two and three. At the top spot, Mark Mandlik and Baptiste Anselmo tallied a 6-3 win over Tin Chen and Alex Wesbrooks. Welsh Hotard and Justin Schlageter fell to Nathan Rodrigues and Etienne Donnet 6-4 at the No. 2 spot. On court three Nathan Han and Jordan Hasson dropped 6-4 to Sergio Hernandez and Matthew Fung.

"There were so many key moments to the match," Crowell continued. "We threw two new doubles pairs into the lineup and unfortunately didn't get the doubles, but everyone came out firing and grabbed momentum in the match."

In singles, Mandlik came away with the Sooners' first win of the day. The junior defeated No. 94 Donnet 6-3, 6-3 at the No. 1 spot. Han tied the match at 2-2 with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over David Mizrahi on court six. On court five, Hotard extended the Sooners' lead with a three-set victory over Rodrigues in 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 fashion. Hasson clinched the match in three sets with a 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 win over Chen on court three.

"Mark [Mandlik] was able to get off quick and that set the tone," Crowell stated. "Nathan [Han] was able to erase a 1-5 deficit in the second and got us two wins. Welsh [Hotard] played a dominant third set and it came down to Jordan [Hasson]. Jordan was able to break on a deuce point at 5-5. He played the best game of the match to serve it out."

Schlageter fell to Hernandez 6-0, 6-2 on court four. When play was halted, Anselmo had a score of 3-6, 6-3, 3-4 against Josh Howard-Tripp at the No. 2 spot.

"I'm so proud of this group," Crowell said. "We will get back and recover, and get ready for the next round."

UP NEXT

The Sooners will face the winner of Michigan and Western Michigan, Saturday at noon CT at the University of Michigan Varsity Tennis Center. Additional information can be found on the tournament hub.

RESULTS

No. 38 Oklahoma 4, No. 23 Louisville 2

Singles competition
1. Mark Mandik (OU) d. No. 94 Etienne Donnet (UL) 6-3, 6-3
2. Josh Howard-Tripp (UL) vs. Baptiste Anselmo (OU) 6-3, 3-6, 4-3 unfinished
3. Jordan Hasson (OU) d. Tin Chen (UL) 6-1, 4-6, 7-5
4. Sergio Hernandez (UL) d. Justin Schlageter (OU) 6-0, 6-2
5. Welsh Hotard (OU) d. Natan Rodriques (UL) 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
6. Nathan Han (OU) d. David Mizrahi (UL) 6-4, 7-5

Doubles competition
1. Mark Mandik/Baptiste Anselmo (OU) d. Tin Chen/Alex Wesbrooks (UL) 6-3
2. Natan Rodrigues/Etienne Donnet (UL) d. Welsh Hotard/Justin Schlageter (OU) 6-4
3. Sergio Hernandez/Matthew Fung (UL) d. Nathan Han/Jordan Hasson (OU) 6-4

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (4,1,6,5,3)