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Men's Tennis Continues Home Stretch With WSU, TAMU
2/8/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 8, 2012
TULSA, Okla. - The No. 23-ranked University of Tulsa men's tennis team will host Wichita State and No. 11 Texas A&M this weekend. The Golden Hurricane will face the Shockers (2-1) at 7 p.m. Feb. 10, and the team will return for a 1 p.m. meeting Feb. 12 with the Aggies (4-1).
Both matches are part of doubleheaders with the TU women's team.
WSU is led by Matheus Pereira, who is ranked 66th in the nation. He is also part of the No. 20-ranked doubles tandem with David Cavalcanti. TAMU has no ranked doubles teams, but the Aggies have three ranked singles players (No. 19 Alexis Klegou, No. 73 Jeremy Efferding, No. 104 Junior Ore).
Tulsa coach Vince Westbrook owns an all-time mark of 8-2 against Wichita State, and he is 2-13 against Texas A&M. TU fell 6-1 in College Station to TAMU last year, and the Golden Hurricane defeated WSU 6-1 in Wichita last year.
LAST TIME OUT
Tulsa split a home weekend with No. 24 Texas Tech and No. 25 San Diego. The Golden Hurricane posted a convincing 5-2 triumph over the Red Raiders Feb. 3, but fell 4-3 to the Toreros Feb. 5. TU won the doubles point and picked up four of six singles matches against TTU. The Golden Hurricane was able to split singles matches with USD, but the all-important doubles point went to the road side. Senior Ashley Watling was a perfect 4-0 on the weekend to lead the blue and gold. Junior Clifford Marsland and freshman Alejandro Sanchez were both 3-1.
WATLING EARNS BACK-TO-BACK C-USA MEN'S TENNIS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK HONORS
Senior Ashley Watling posted a perfect 7-0 mark over the last two weeks, and for his efforts he has earned back-to-back Conference USA Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week honors. Along the way, he has topped No. 23 Gonzalo Escobar of Texas Tech, No. 92 Patrick Pohlmann of San Diego and Jesus Bandres of East Tennessee State. He and junior Clifford Marsland have won each of their last four doubles matches. Watling has now won eight-career honors. He won three each his sophomore and junior years.
TREACHEROUS SLATE AWAITS GOLDEN HURRICANE
Tulsa will be tested early and often by one of the most difficult schedules in the nation. The Golden Hurricane earned a preseason ITA national rank of No. 23, and the team will face at least 13 schools ranked inside the top 30 in the preseason rankings. Also on the docket are nine top-20 schools and three top-10 schools (No. 5 Baylor, No. 6 Stanford, No. 7 Kentucky) according to the preseason rankings. Eight top-30 schools will visit the Michael D. Case Tennis Center this season. Tulsa posted a 10-8 record against ranked opponents last year.
TULSA REMAINS AT NO. 23, DOUBLES TANDEM TIES SCHOOL RECORD AT NO. 3
The University of Tulsa is ranked No. 23 in the nation, according to the most recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings released February 7. Senior Ashley Watling and junior Clifford Marsland earned a doubles rank of No. 3, which tied Arnau Brugues and Philip Stephens (twice in 2009) for the highest doubles mark in school history. Juniors Grant Ive and Tristan Jackson also earned a career-high doubles rank of No. 37, while Watling (83) and Ive (88) were both ranked in singles.
WESTBROOK IN 21ST YEAR AT THE HELM
Vince Westbrook is currently in his 21st year at the helm of the TU men's tennis team. He reached the 300-win plateau last season, and he currently owns a 307-226 record for a .576 winning percentage. The 307 wins is a school record.
