Tulsa Men’s Tennis Tops SMU, 4-1, to Advance to American Athletic Conference Championship

Saturday, April 23

Memphis, Tenn.

9:00 a.m.

Tulsa

Southern Methodist University

Tulsa Men’s Tennis Tops SMU, 4-1, to Advance to American Athletic Conference Championship

4/23/2016 1:13:00 PM | Men's Tennis

By: Drake Allen

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – On Saturday morning, The University of Tulsa's 23^rd-ranked and seconded-seeded men's team defeated 27^th-ranked and third-seeded SMU, 4-1, in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference Championships at the Dunavant-Wellford Tennis Center in Memphis, Tenn. The Golden Hurricane (17-12 overall) will take on first-seeded USF in the conference championship match on Sunday, April 24, at 10:00 a.m.

Senior Dylan McCloskey and freshman Dominic Bechard (No. 2) recorded a 6-2 win over Nate Lammons and Markus Kerner to begin doubles play. SMU's 26^th-ranked Hunter Johnson and Yates Johnson defeated senior Matthew Kirby and freshman Okkie Kellerman (No. 1) in a 6-3 decision. With the doubles point on the line, Samm Butler and Ronnald Slobodchikov topped Majed Kilani and Carlos Bautista (No. 3), 6-4, to give SMU a 1-0 match lead going into singles play.

Tulsa battled back in singles play winning four straight matches, three of them in just two frames. Sophomore Juan Matias Gonzalez (No. 2) defeated SMU's 61^st-ranked singles player Hunter Johnson, 6-3, 6-1, before senior Carlos Bautisa (No. 4) defeated Markus Kerner, 6-1, 6-4, to take a 2-1 match lead. Senior Dylan McCloskey (No. 6) recorded a 6-4, 6-3 win over Yates Johnson. TU's 46^th-ranked singles player junior Or Ram-Harel clinched the match victory defeating 105^th-ranked Nate Lammons 6-0, 1-6, 6-0.

For live video to tomorrow's championship match click here.

For live stats to tomorrow's championship match click here.

No. 23 Tulsa 4, No. 27 SMU 1
SINGLES
1. #46 Or Ram-Harel (Tulsa) defeated #105 Nate Lammons (SMU), 6-0, 1-6, 6-1
2. Juan Matias Gonzalez (Tulsa) defeated #61 Hunter Johnson (SMU), 6-3, 6-1
3. Majed Kilani (Tulsa) vs. Samm Butler (SMU), DNF
4. Carlos Bautista (Tulsa) defeated Markus Kerner (SMU), 6-1, 6-4
5. Francois Kellerman (Tulsa) vs. Ronald Slobodchikov (SMU), DNF
6. Dylan McCloskey (Tulsa) def. Yates Johnson (SMU), 6-4, 6-3
Order of singles finish: 2, 4, 6, 1

DOUBLES
1. #26 H.Johnson/Y.Johnson (SMU) defeated Kirby/Kellerman (Tulsa) 6-3
2. McCloskey/ Bechard (Tulsa) defeated Lammons/Kerner (SMU) 6-2
3. Butler/Slobodchikov (SMU) defeated Kilani/Bautista (Tulsa) 6-4
Order of doubles finish: 2, 1, 3

Records: Tulsa 17-12, SMU 20-8

For all Tulsa men's tennis news and information, visit www.TulsaHurricane.com. Follow Tulsa Athletics on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TulsaHurricane and Facebook at www.facebook.com/TulsaHurricane. Follow Tulsa Men's Tennis on Twitter (http://twitter.com/TulsaMTennis) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TulsaMTennis).

The University of Tulsa's Michael D. Case Tennis Center is host site for the 2016 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Tennis Championships, May 19-30